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Shell Shock (2017)

A Poem 100 Years Late

By Sebastian PhillipsPublished 6 years ago 1 min read
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It takes you a piece at a time.

Each shell removes another thread.

Each "crump" unpicks another stitch

until the tapestry makes no sense.

Colours, noise, screams blur.

What had been a picture of youth

turns muddish grey, drained of life.

The banshee wails in your ear and

does not stop.

It - Does – Not – Stop.

Cover your head then.

Press yourself against the bank of slime

and pray whatever God you have to let you live.

Somewhere, two thousand yards ahead:

a gunner opens up the breach.

A brass case is ejected, and flies

steaming and smoking, on the pile.

What remains when the screaming is done?

A shell case.

Used up metal.

A soundless brass, forever - empty.

sad poetry
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About the Creator

Sebastian Phillips

UK based writer and photographer, specialising in offbeat stories and obscure facts.

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