We were like locusts. Burning pilfering and raping.
We said it was the law of war, that it was merely tactics.
We implemented scorched-earth policies to rule.
“They would do the same to us.”
“We followed orders.”
Yet at night I see myself; reflected in the eyes of dying mothers, in the pools of blood. I hear the screams of toddlers.
I cannot wash the scent of burning corpses from my dreams. and stolen bread tastes like ash.
But when we meet, we share a drink, we brag of being heroes; we make-believe ourselves.
And still we are their locusts.
© Shaktiki Sharma
I know it’s not locust, but still I felt a bit like being transformed to something like that. It bugs me that I can even write something this in first perspective. I just hope that I would rather be shot at dawn for disobeying than to follow orders in any war like this.
Rochelle selects the picture and we write a story in 100 words to the same image at Friday Fictioneers. If you have time to read my interview with Sarah Potter and story at Sarah Potter’s blog you can learn a bit more about me.
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March 9, 2017
Ooh Bjorn, you have written this so well. You have shown his feelings perfectly.
Thank you Clare… I’m blessed just having to imagine the feelings.
I liked “stolen bread tastes like ash”
And I hope it does taste lake that.
“…we make-believe ourselves.” I wonder how many are forced to say that to help others deal with what they’ve done. I say “to help others” because I doubt that any sort of fantasy can help the guilty–the ones who truly feel remorse–deal with such memories.
Powerful.
I think we all make-believe ourselves… but I guess that the more we have to hide the harder it gets.
Damn….
Damn indeed
This was brilliant! And I am sure there are thousands of soldiers who feel the same – And, if they had more courage, would not follow orders…
The following of orders was a common excuse during the Nuremberg trials…
…indeed…
Expertly done Bjorn, really liked this one. Good interview too!
Thank you… once I decided to start with locusts it came by itself.
Dear Björn,
It doesn’t matter what the bug in the photo is, does it? Achingly brilliant use of the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I think we will have many people in the years to come who carries a burden like this…
Hey there Bjorn! I found your blog today, and I’m nominating you for That’s So Jacob’s March Blog Madness! It’s simple: find five interesting blogs today, copy and paste this comment to theirs, and give them a follow! Have a great day and if you’re so inclined, kindly come visit me over at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com. Have fun spreading the blog love this month!
Thank you for the nomination… appreciated.. however I have declined all such nomination in the past.
Hey there! I found your blog today, and I’m nominating you for That’s So Jacob’s March Blog Madness! It’s simple: find five interesting blogs today, copy and paste this comment to theirs, and give them a follow! Have a great day and if you’re so inclined, kindly come visit me over at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com. Have fun spreading the blog love this month!
Bjorn! This is truly one of your best pieces. I’ve read it three times and just might read it again. A brilliant take on the prompt
Thank you… it’s a subject that is close to my heart… probably there is passion in my words.
This is powerfully done.
I think using the first person makes it more powerful because then it’s in his nightmares, all that happened; first person has the advantage of making the reader feel something more.
And, hopefully, as writers, our fiction does not make a commentary on who we are within, but what we observe and/or imagine.
Indeed.. the first person can be hard to write…. but we have to for the message to be stronger. That is why it’s fiction.
Locusts, what a powerful metaphor, yes. You capture the inner and outer horror so well; I can see what you mean about it being hard to write this in the first person. Brilliant arc on it too, to get to the reminiscing and pretending and then back down again. Excellent.
Thank you… yes the horrors of the news we see might be mirrored in our neighbor’s eyes.
And you never know; good thing to remember.
I always thought it was telling how much soldiers don’t want to tell civilians. At some point in the conversation, they look away and shut up.
I think there is always something that you hide… and the silence would be telling.
Very dark. Well told. The horrors and the truth that will haunt you
And the only one you can share it with is your brothers in arms
Yes. For good or ill
‘…we followed orders’. Imagine having to live with memories like those.
My story is called ‘THE DETECTIVE’
Orders is an excuse… nothing else.
Very metaphorical and reflective of todays fractured times. I particularly liked “stolen bread tastes like ash”.
I actually hope it does… somehow that shows a small piece of humanity
It is as if they have brainwashed themselves into believing they’re superheroes, fighting some mighty cause for ultimate good, whatever the fallout meanwhile. It’s sick. It’s evil. And, like you, I would rather die than obey such evil orders. Your story is very well written, but deeply disturbing.
I think most people would tell themselves there is a greater cause… I cannot see that it would happen otherwise.
I actually hope it does… somehow that shows a small piece of humanity
Brilliant piece, brilliantly done. Very powerful.
Thank you… the locust is a strong symbol
They don’t shoot conscientous objectors these days – they make them carry the bodies. Superb story, and it is a locust.
Then it’s even less a reason to take part… if everybody objects there will be no bodies to carry.
War….this is a realistic take on what we tell ourselves about heroism, glory, victory. It is just a pile of dead bodies, and the living? Well, you covered it.
Locust. Anyone who is a farmer out mid west knows this plague. Picking the locust as focal point gets to the ‘meat’ of the matter. Good piece, Bjorn.
I really like your take on the picture. Besides being creative, this is marvelously told.
Sadly, Bjorn, too many people have used your line; “just following orders”, as the body count mounts up, with each passing day.
Bjorn, I loved your story. I’m afraid the link to your interview didn’t work for me. “Page not found.”
Striking, terrible words! Well done.
Outstanding piece, Bjorn. I’ve come accustomed to that from you over the years. The first person POV made it extremely powerful.
Aren’t all wars like that? Even fighting for a good cause is getting innocents killed. Brilliant story, Björn, powerful, emotional and thoughtful.
Very distressing and powerful!
A powerful piece of writing Bjorn. Well done.
This is a classic of the type Bjorn. Spot on people do horrific things in war, under orders or not, these things may come to haunt them and often they try to counteract it by inventing another truth. I’m sure they have to to alleviate the trauma.
Powerful story Bjorn. Love the line about the stolen bread. Dark and moving.
Tragic, what people are expected to do to each other. Moving tale, Bjorn
A hard hitting and thought provoking post.
“They would do the same to us.” What a tragic way of thinking.
A very powerful 100 words!
Powerful, Bjorn. So rich and every line just hit me. So sad it continues, on and on. What a burden to bear.
And still thousands continue to just follow orders. And I wonder would I have been any different ! With age one learns that there are so many better causes
I will die along side you, with many other good people who feel the same way. Powerful, haunting piece, Björn. I will NEVER understand the logic of those who would argue this….
Very powerful. The self loathing sits uncomfortably and yet so neatly with the knowledge they would do the same again.
Really impressive . Loved it . A hard hitting article
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