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Breath of Courage
by Clairesbest (Member) - published: October 11, 2004
Word Count: 147 Word Bytes: 1050 Viewed: 604 times
Category - Poetry
© Copyright by Clairesbest





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It was an arm before the blast
which pushed me out of danger
as its last act.
Unrecognizable
Save the chain he wore
with three initials
now with me for safekeeping.

I told my heart to beat
for his could only bleed.
In this arid and atrocious place
Men of honor,
even with a quiet final gasp,
Go home in boxes draped with flags
To shouts of waste
and cries of want which
will not stop to let the
living staunch their bleeding.
Racked with guilt,
A return to open arms
and thankful lips whose
whispered prayers were answered,
Pitiful substitutes
for the breath of courage
which would set me free.

The ringing bell,
A dark eyed wife
With toddler in tow,
who welcomed me with open arms
as tears fell on the hand
which placed the chain in hers
and released a mutual cleansing sigh.







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Comments

The following comments are for "Breath of Courage"
by Clairesbest

Have you thanked
a serviceman/ woman today. As usual Claire, you are an inspiration.

( Posted by: Snapshot [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Stunning Claire!
Absolutely wonderful Claire...you've outdone yourself with this one. How many more doorbells have to be rung before all this craziness stops!

Love
Gram

( Posted by: Beatrice Boyle [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

excellent Claire.....
as usual it left me breathless thinking about our country's sons/daughters who return to us in not the way that we wished.

( Posted by: CJHerlihy [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Breath of Courage
Claire, What a stunning tribute. Absolutely breathtaking and heart wrenching.

Nae

( Posted by: nae411 [Moderator] On: October 11, 2004 )

breath of courage
This is arresting and riveting, and glorious in its heartwork. How difficult it must be to be tha messenger..."shouts of waste/and cries of want which/will not stop..." This human condition of ours, what a yoke it is, at times like those... This one, Claire, is right up there with that little-girl-behind-the-fence poem you wrote some time ago. Just doesn't let the reader go...Loved this.

( Posted by: windchime [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Raw
and utterly gut-wrenching, Claire. What an outstanding write and insight to war and death. Hauntingly beautiful.

Always,
Char

( Posted by: Char [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Claire,
How can I say anything better than the above readers have....I enjoyed this. You have written such a profound poem.......lingering feelings are with me now....

Dar

( Posted by: Dareva [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Wonderful
I just want to say this is very touching. Very sad, very sad indeed. Thank you for sharing this.

( Posted by: Serendipity [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Claire
Oh, yes. Here you are like the brave, soulful chronicler. I enjoyed the read and the scenes leap out from the page.

( Posted by: PETERPAULINO [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Breath of Courage
Beautiful tribute to well deserving heros! Thank you for reminding us of those heros and their families who sacrifice so much for others. Also thank you and gratitude to you for your understanding heart and written words and feelings that will always keep the memories of those heros alive. Nothing needs to be taken away from what you wrote, nothing needs to be added. You said it all, perfectly. Thanks again.

( Posted by: wishfulthinking [Member] On: October 11, 2004 )

Claire
You are finally using your powers for GOOD instead of EVIL!!!! Just joshin'. This is a wonderful piece...peace...Amy

( Posted by: arc [Member] On: October 12, 2004 )

Poignant Claire!
Thanks for bringing home the point that buried among the statistics of the daily briefings of the dead and wounded our forces have sustained...are living...breathing families who are grieving for their lost loved ones. Hundreds upon hundreds of wives and children have had their lives destroyed in a single moment! Say a silent prayer the next time you watch the news or read the newspaper...the next doorbell being rung may be yours! Brilliant Claire!

Love,
Gram

( Posted by: Beatrice Boyle [Member] On: October 12, 2004 )

Well said
As one of the sons I am glad I did not come home that way. Tho if I had would have liked to be your way and not the way most do to just lip service. Think you should send it to Stars and Stripes well done as always Claire.

( Posted by: chapter1 [Member] On: October 12, 2004 )

Breath of Courage
Claire;
You have a heart of gold...You have said something, that a few could never say...and that means alot...

Blessings,
{{{Jeannie}}}

( Posted by: JEANNIE45 [Member] On: October 12, 2004 )

haunting-memoir
as a service member my dad once had the job of
telling the families of fallen vietnam soldiers
the bad news. this piece is stunning-as an artist
i try to envision the words in pictures in my
head-might not get the message all the time-but
you certainly did it for me here.

( Posted by: wetice [Member] On: October 13, 2004 )

oh my gosh!
like... i was loving it and then i read the last stanza and almost fell out of my chair because it was so good! i love the way you wrapped up the piece! it just hit my heart! great job!

( Posted by: supergranny [Member] On: November 3, 2004 )

Claire
Claire,

As one who has had to break the news of sudden death to a colleagues wife, this poetry had real meaning to me.

Bea, also hit home, how can one get your mind around the statistics, hundreds dead and each one the loving relative or friend of many others who will forever suffer their loss.

If you poem makes one more person understand the misery of war then it has served it's purpose.

As poppy day aproaches here in the UK, I wonder whether we will ever learn....

Ivor

( Posted by: ivordavies [Member] On: November 3, 2004 )

I've Read This...
Many times now...

It is very hard to comment... You have captured a moment that cannot be explained in words... And yet, have done so...

Thank You Claire, for many... Thank You...

( Posted by: daprdan [Member] On: November 7, 2004 )

wow
i really enjoyed your poem, and found it somewhat intense

( Posted by: englishgal16 [Member] On: March 16, 2005 )





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