Afghan Glory

John Nesbitt 1910 (Victoria, British Columbia) – 1960 ( Carmel, California)



A poem by John Nesbitt © 22.11.2013

I was eighteen years old and wanting to fight
 I found what I looked for, in bars late at night
 I took on the big guys, the small ones as well
 They were all tough, as far as I could tell
 -
 As a jobless young man, proud of my country
 I joined up with the army and trained how not to be
 They told me I’d fight to keep us all free
 So that we’d never have to bend the knee
 They trained me in weapons, unarmed combat too
 The use of explosives and what they could do
 And how to take cover behind rocks and trees
 They taught me to find bombs and those I E D’s
 -
 So step up to the plate boys, start waving the flag
 We’ll be all draped with medals when it’s all in the bag
 Think of the glory, this conflict will bring
 A few months away, then we can all sing
 -
 On my very first mission, I was told to unwind
 I took lead position, when searching for mines
 The blast threw me up twenty feet in the air
 I couldn’t feel my feet for they were no longer there
 My right arm was shattered my left fingers gone
 I once had two ears but now only one
 I thought I was dying, I couldn’t hear a thing
 I wasn’t thinking of the medals or being dressed up with bling
 -
 Now all I can do is sit here on the floor
 and wonder what it all had been for
 my comrades call around from time to time
 I can see their discomfort when they’re thinking of mine
 They wouldn’t trade places, no matter what for
 They each have their memories, of that terrible war
 My fighting days over, no more blood and guts
 So I’ll settle right down in my terrible rut
 -
 I stepped up to the plate boys and I waved the flag
 But I’m not draped in medals and it’s not in the bag
 I thought of the glory the conflict would bring
 No legs, no fingers and in no mood to sing
 -
 Things soon will be over in Afghanistan
 Talks are on-going with the Taliban
 We struggled against them for thirteen hard years
 But all we produced was billions of tears
 Fathers lost sons and Mothers lost child
 business got rich, there were deals on the side
 Where’s the next country they’ll start a new war

 Persia?
 Korea?
 Let’s hope….. it’s…. not ….yours
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Submitted on September 20, 2014

Modified on March 05, 2023

2:08 min read
117

Quick analysis:

Scheme X AABB CCCCDDEE FFGG XXHHXXGF IIXXIIXX FFGG JJXXXXI KKX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 2,183
Words 429
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 1, 49, 3

John Nesbitt

John Nesbitt (August 23, 1910 – August 10, 1960) was an actor, narrator, announcer, producer and screenwriter Nesbitt was best known as the narrator of the MGM series Passing Parade.  more…

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