Return to Archives index page

Leave a comment

Tower and Town, November 2016

  (view the full edition)

For You

Watching you wave me off at
the train station, holding tears,
Promising to come home safe,
I will miss you.

Waiting for the sun to rise,
Sitting, eating cardboard food,
Listening to the shells explode,
I will wait for you.

The raw bite of barbed wire,
Blood seeping from my left leg,
Dodging the enemy fire,
I will survive for you.

Ducking below the trench side,
Limping across no man's land,
Wave after wave of soldiers,
I will fight for you.

Pulling you under cover,
Shielding you from constant
rounds, bullet after bullet,
I will protect them for you.

BANG

A metallic bullet strikes,
The artery is severed,
Dark crimson liquid flowing,
I will die for you.

Remembering your first steps,
The feel of your tender love,
Not seeing your smile every day,
I will love you.

Breaking my promise to you,
As I lie here losing hope
I'm sorry. Truly sorry.

Katie Howard

Return to Archives index page

Leave a comment