Aluah Soldier
Being a warrior, Aluah understands that
opposing soldiers also fight with a mission.
Aluah Soldier Prelude
For me personally, I have never had to pull the trigger, drop a bomb, or kill anyone. I trained for that in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years (1980-1986), but I was never called to put my life on the line. For that, I am grateful.
My dad was a soldier (mostly as an officer) in World War II for four years and two more years during the Korean War; and even though he didn’t talk much about the war, he always said that he had seen enough horror for all future generations. Unfortunately, the world continues to fight its wars and generate more horror.
When I was six years old (1956), I remember playing with my toy army soldiers and tanks and asking my dad to tell me something about the war. He simply looked at me and said, “Everyday is a gift.” Awhile later, I asked him again to tell me something about the war, and all he said was, “I don’t deserve to be here.”
In my writings in ‘Aluah Soldier’, I try to capture a sense for what combat soldiers may feel during and after war, but maybe never talk about much or express to anyone.
In some ways, too, even though we may not have fought in a war; we all fight our own wars in our own lives everyday, and maybe we don’t talk much about those battles, either.
For me personally, I have never had to pull the trigger, drop a bomb, or kill anyone. I trained for that in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years (1980-1986), but I was never called to put my life on the line. For that, I am grateful.
My dad was a soldier (mostly as an officer) in World War II for four years and two more years during the Korean War; and even though he didn’t talk much about the war, he always said that he had seen enough horror for all future generations. Unfortunately, the world continues to fight its wars and generate more horror.
When I was six years old (1956), I remember playing with my toy army soldiers and tanks and asking my dad to tell me something about the war. He simply looked at me and said, “Everyday is a gift.” Awhile later, I asked him again to tell me something about the war, and all he said was, “I don’t deserve to be here.”
In my writings in ‘Aluah Soldier’, I try to capture a sense for what combat soldiers may feel during and after war, but maybe never talk about much or express to anyone.
In some ways, too, even though we may not have fought in a war; we all fight our own wars in our own lives everyday, and maybe we don’t talk much about those battles, either.
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Oh Captain, Oh Captain
Oh Captain, Oh Captain Do you have time To reconsider Before you Give the order For us to Pull the trigger. We hear the order, We pull the trigger -- Launching bombs and Bullets into the night. We hear the hit Like some dream Given to us now To live with forever. Oh Captain, Oh Captain Do you have time To reconsider Before you Give another order For us to Pull the trigger. |
Boot Soup
We’ve all walked so far, I can only imagine What soup our boots Could make To help heal Broken bones Or soothe an Orphaned soul. Somehow, Somewhere I asked for God’s grace Just to live Another day And maybe even Not remember Orphan days. |
Right of Refusal
I asked my dad More than once To tell me something About the war and what He lived through, But he always looked At me with some Blank stare. I would ask again With curious persistence, But he still looked at me With distant hauntedness. I saw enough, Then too much more – His eyes seemed To say. I tried to feel his pain – But settled for his Right of refusal. |