National Poetry Month 2016: April 14, 15

[RiverNotch]

Here are the two prompts, each 8 lines or more, with the same freedom-of-form. Again, one post per poem -- note which day yer poem is; and, being a month, try and catch up, any newcomers! but please, in their respective threads.

April 14: Inspired by war, battle, conflict, etc.

April 15: POET'S CHOICE *bells ringing*

Credit where it's due; the idea and the prompts come from this site:
Poetry Forum - - Post poetry, get feedback, give critique.

 

[RiverNotch]

April 14

IN THE TUNNELS OF CORREGIDOR

I did not fear the blindness
when our guide commanded us
to shut our lights and see
as the cloistered Japanese --

and though the breath of wind divine
resounding from those cratered walls
tickled the spines of my fellows,
I caught no voice, I felt no hand --

but I jumped when the light returned
and the image of a soldier ashamed
destroying himself by grenade
was imprinted in my vision.

 

[RiverNotch]

April 15

THE READING

She drew six cards and formed the cross --
I found it all arranged.
I sent them back and went the course,
but fate had me detained.

And there it was: the death of me
and all He left behind,
the woman by the waters still
determining the line,

the devil's curse returning lots,
the tower falling down,
the comet blazing through the sky,
and howling come around.

But horror struck me not because
of such a brilliant fall,
it was that I'd no agency
even in standing tall.

For since the Endor-Witch declared,
I acted without choice,
at first the hero so accursed
then afterwards her voice.

 

[Kitti]

Weights (or, A Clumsy Horatian Ode)

I came across a flower along a grassy road
And as I had not seen a blossom quite so fair
Then paused I to admire and lay down my heavy load
Those weights upon my shoulders filled with worry and with care
So with my burden lessened, my eyes turned to the sky
Toward the cloudless blue expanses that stretched as far as one could see
Filled with birds that soared above me with a song I had not heard before
A song that filled my heart again and made me wonder why
Or when it was that I became this empty shell of me
Now I leave that ballast in my wake as I prepare to soar

 

[noodle]

April 15
--------------
Drowning

A flurry of bubbles erupts, a burst,
And each and every one of them is named.
Anxiety is the name of the first,
It's scared of the future- it can't be blamed.
Sadness is the next with which I am cursed,
But I have to fight it before I am claimed.
There are too many to name while I'm down,
I must kick up to the air lest I drown.

 

[PoetLore]

Meant for maneuvers was the Kursk
One hundred eighteen men
Her crew of stalwart sailors true
Left Murmansk Harbor then

*

To float above the ocean floor
And all was going smoothly
No one suspected aught amiss
Til something blasted soundly

*

Confusion filled the submarine
As panic did set it
The Kursk crashed on the ocean floor
Crumbling steel like tin

*

The impact of this hard collision
proved their undoing sure
for torpedoes then exploded
causing damages galore

*

An S.O.S. was sounded then
To bring relief to them
They frantically began to work
flood water then to stem

*

Commander Gennady Lyachin
Then tried to comfort them
Be brave men help is on its way
and then sang the nat'l anthem

*

The would be rescue crew was sent
and came to them with haste
though they desired to save the men
their efforts were a waste

*

for they were poorly outfitted
to undertake the task
they dove four days in Berents Sea
Russia then for help did ask

*

Norwegian and British divers
were sent to aid them then
with mini sub and equipment
the divers went down again

*

They dove three hundred fifty feet
in less than a single day
but though they reached them all were lost
The divers did relay

*

The outcry from the grievous loss
was heard throughout the land
President Putin met with them
Their numbers as the sand

*

"When will we get them back," she shouts
"Whether dead or alive?"
But Putin could not give account
or the progress of the dive

*

The grief is immeasurable
Putin truly admits
"My heart is aching but your much more"
yet still the Kursk there sits

*

A headline reads 'Nine Days of Shame'
The newspaper submits
"Forgive us we did not protect,"
Sergeyev then admits

*

So in their steely casket lays
One hundred eighteen men
The crew of stalwart sailors true
recovered who knows when

 

[Doctor Jax]

The Skull is a No Man's Land

The skull is a No Man's Land,
within it a war,
waged unseen,
where thoughts make a last stand.

The creases of the brain are trenches
and here is the fight.
Supply chains are broken,
the body throwing proverbial wrenches.

Dopamine does its absolute best,
but the depots are blown.
There is nowhere to hide,
and all they can do is wander aimless.

Where are the reinforcements?
They are coming,
but not today,
per the general's endorsement.

The fight continues nevertheless,
to keep going on,
to struggle forward,
even when things seem hopeless.