War Stories

THE KISSING STONE (ALYA) ...And when the silence was at its deepest, the stillness so complete that even the crickets ceased their shouting, and the watchman on duty was dozing off somewhere. Alya arose from her bed as if obeying a command and, dressed in her nightclothes, went to the door and opened it. For a long moment, she stood at the open door listening, then closed the door behind her and walked into the night. The...

31st of April We arrived at Orleans two days ago. Usually when we have marched towards a battle I have wondered which of my comrades I wouldn’t see again, or if they would see me again. I would have wondered how my family are doing, if my little brother has learned how to bring in the sheep without our father getting furious, or if they are even still alive. But not two days ago. Two days ago we marched and we were filled...

In the valley of Moethere's a town you never heardwhere it'd always snowtill a plague quite absurdtumbled from the downspokeand sliced off the headsof all the townsfolkwho dashed around like undeads.With the town disabled,a copper sage cameand overtook the fabled.He was the one to blamefor the sharp windthat fell upon the townand did them all in.On a throne, he sat downHe had his foxescollect all the capsand store them in...

I read in the paper that...Another boy died in the warGunned down by the TalibanHis body riddled with bulletsInside I weepHe was only nineteen, smiling in his dress uniformHe was on his last tourI switched on the news and found out...Another man died in the warBlown up by dissidentsHis truck hit a mineInside I weepHis whole town turned up for the funeral, his widow sobbedClutching on to his young children I listened to th...

Upon the discovery in France in May of 2001 of twenty British soldiers killed in the battle of Arras on April 9th 1917.   In equal brotherhood they came, Embraced by Liberty who stands Together with the harlot Fame Beside the graves of gallant bands. One such were they, I see them all - Twenty sons seduced by Valour, Who sweetly smiled and let them fall Into crimson mud and pallor. With reverence their grave behold: Unite...

This special day is the closest I will ever get to meeting my grandpa, it's my chance to say hello and goodbye all at once. Mum is holding my hand and I hold my sister's, and the three of us stand back to let Gran whisper a few quiet and private words of remembrance. Those words are all she has to make up for a whole lifetime, a lifetime cut short on this desolate field in France.This isn't the France I remember from holi...

The one thing I will never understand,Is man's inhumanity to his fellow man,How people who call each other sister and brother,Could be so hurtful to one and other,How people can treat each other so mean,Without understanding where they've been,Who would lead each other into war,Choosing to be the problem, not the cure,Who have the power to guide another man's fate,With hidden agendas mixed with hate,Who think nothing of c...