Bloodless blisters,
broken bones and bruises,
leave me listless, numbed
in restless agony.
It’s 2AM and from the ward
I hear a radio blaring lies,
of how our losses lessens
by each day, how
retreat is treason,
and how suffering today
will manyfold
to victories and endless peace.
I think of home and
those whispered words
of bombs and firestorms,
and how the enemies
retaliate with rape.
I see my sister smiling
as she did the day I left.
I think of calmness
in my comrades’ dying eyes.
and if I shut my eyes
I hear me screaming out
the pain of being
forced to live another day,
of only feeling hate,
and gently fall in restless sleep
again, again.
Francisco Goya
Today Ingrid hosts at dVerse writing poetry about pain. I tried to go into the pain of war, not only of being hurt, but all the fear you must have.
October 12, 2021
Björn Rudbergs writings 
You travel deep into the pain here, Björn: down through layers of pain and disillusionment. The alliteration is especially effective at driving home your message.
This is really arresting Bjorn. I too like the alliteration. I feel the pain of this one.
This is incredibly hard-hitting and potent, Bjorn! I resonate with; “a radio blaring lies, of how our losses lessens by each day.”
I feel the anguish but I do not see any resolution, only a nightmare that never ends…
Very disturbing.
Another war poem, and a powerful one. Maybe one day you will publish the War Poems, after the success of the publishing of your AGED LIBRARIAN Series; hugs.
This is a very effective reminder of the pain of war, too often ignored by those you most need to hear it.
The anguish of war and its aftermath. What a dark place to leave its victim.
Happy Tuesday Björn
Much💜love
I remember a war documentary recently where a vet said the thing about war is that you have no options, no escape. A truly restless sleep.
Wow, this one hits deep. 🖤~Kris
The internal pain is so sharp and hard to process for so many, your verses drive that home!
Visceral in both senses and imagery.
“It’s 2AM and from the ward/I hear a radio blaring lies” — These words brutally cut into the present suffering of the persona and take us down the harsh reality of his disillusionment, which for now seems hopeless.
This pain feels so present and the images make it easy to experience both the physical and mental anguish of the moment. The first stanza transports me there.
you have left me speechless with this one!!!! wow
A good write, Björn…I feel the pain and the interminable anguish…very visceral
The pain was palpable in this, and the repeated “again, again” hints at both perseverance and resignation.
calmness
in my comrades’ dying eyes.
and if I shut my eyes
I hear me screaming out
the pain of being
forced to live another day,
All of the resolve goes to the dying, and none to the living. Sad.
It’s truly said that only the dead have seen the end of war, and that goes double for the scars it leaves on those who fight and know it most. An empathetic write, and a vivid nightmare journey to what we must accept as peace.
The opening alliteration and the underlying anguish make this a very moving write. Love it.
You have expressed the lies of war so well. If only we could be rid of man’s inhumanity to man.
brutal. honest. true ~
your images are reflective and moving. the horror of war and the pain it brings about here are clearly felt.