News cycle filters through the pictures again,
muted buzz of static from the back of the set
perched high above an empty bar,
upturned stools kicked up like drunk legs.
Cigarette burnt low he flicks the butt wide,
watches it sail, scatter ash, splutter in the sink,
tap drip, dripping in that constant aching manner
of fists drumming against windows caving in.
Could comment on the old school tactics,
another plague, a new spin on the old classic.
Some times the old tricks do work best,
even if they stop short of razing it all to dust.
Tonight we are being challenged to write War Poetry, which immediately brings back memories of studying Wilfred Owen’s Selected Poems for A Level English Lit. However, war is something that always seems to exist somewhere at any point in history, and all too often conflict is much closer than we would like to believe.
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
Exquisite writing … I like the approach you took to this challenge. A difficult challenge.
Well written Carol.
You make an excellent point, Carol, war is something that always seems to exist somewhere at any point in history, and conflict is often closer than we would like to believe. Your poem conveys this so well. I like the opening stanza that sets the scene perfectly – most of our knowledge of war comes from the news, which exaggerates the distance – and then the way you zoom in on the character in the second stanza.
Yes, it looks like war is a permanent feature of human society. You conveyed this message well.
The images in you poem are wonderful!
I think there is no place to avoid war… it’s in the heart of us, and it’s pushed through the newscycle and into fists and hearts… love the way you captured the depressing scene with the focus on the cigarette.
Excellent imagery here, Carol. I was most struck by these words “upturned stools kicked up like drunk legs.” What a great use of words to describe the scene.
Stunning, stunning imagery in this one that conveys perfectly that war exists and is of many kinds.