Michael Keens
Apr 03, 2024
This poem is part of the contest:

Neopoet Weekly 03/31/24 to 04/06/24

(Read More...)

John's D-Day

The year was nineteen-forty-four
And the date was the sixth of June.
As time went by, death knocked on the door
Of John and his mates, who would meet death soon.
All the rain and sound he pushed,
To the very back of his mind
And thought of all the people he knew -
He just wanted to to remain alive.
Home was where he longed to be:
A warm safe bed, and endless tea.
John’s birthday just so happened to be
The reverse of Day-hyphen-D.
He bravely died on his twentieth birthday
Covered in blood, in tremendous pain.
But John had a purpose and he knew it was worth it
He didn’t complain, and his death was not in vain.

About This Poem

Last Few Words: Double meaning: D-Day (the obvious WW2) and the day John died - his death day which happened to be his birthday. Not based on a true story, apart from D-Day, of course.

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Country/Region: Hants

Favorite Poets: Honestly

More from this author

Comments

T

It starts by giving matter of fact details; and already in the first stanza there is tragedy , which calls for an emotional response. Hearing how he misses his home amplifies the emotional response.

Then comes the line on which the whole poem hinges:
“But John had a purpose, and he knew it was worth it.”

Here we leave the emotional and enter into the spiritual: contemplation of an idea important enough to die for.

Must say, I loved it.

Lavender

Hello, Michael,
As well as the true story of D-day, certainly could be a true story for John, as so many lives were lost. Raw, but revealing.
Thank you,
L