David R. “Poppa” Alexander

NO PICTURE CAN DESCRIBE, NO WORD CAN TELL

For the many weeks
……… A nightmare into my life creeps

Sweats and fitful sleep at best
……… This drama is in full color and allows for no rest

Oh of the thought it brings tears to an ole veteran’s eye
……… A full picture of carnage and death, me with no reply

Seems the picture isn’t complete
……… Until at last I’m in the ground for a final sleep

Dead soldiers all around
……… Oh this dark and bloody ground

Picture this if you can
……… Hundreds no thousands of dead and dying warriors lying bleeding into the sand

In front of the dead I struggle to stand
……… Death that is I missing one leg and one hand

Throat cut, gunshot just over my eye, blood rushing from my very soul
……… A more gruesome picture or story of war has never been told.

Standing with the aid of a crutch made from my gun
……… Nowhere to hide nowhere to run

All the blood that is easily seen
……… When it hits the ground it is red but from each wound the blood runs dark green

From each of the wounds the green blood pours making a deep red stream
……… Once green blood now crimson mixes with all the others as I awaken with a scream

The river of blood flows to the valley below
……… Making a river of dark red blood and into an ocean it does flow

For me there is no selfish pain
……… For I have lived this nightmare in my mind, it is etched into my brain.

The memory of so many lost in one fight
……… I oft wish that I too had died that long ago night.

Awarded: August 13, 2005