War Poetry - Betsy

For those of you who are skeptical on what war poetry actually is, I understand. I was in your position not too long ago. What can be the difference between war poetry and poetry that is just violent? How can you classify the difference when clearly, they can be closely related? Well let me ask you one question, what are the first words you think of when you read a poem about war; assault, weapons, maybe even death? Let me clarify, that is violence poetry. War poetry means something much more. When I read a poem about war I don’t think about violence, I think about each and every solider that at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount that includes their life. I think of the many lives they have saved, are saving, and will continue to save to keep our country “free”. When I read a poem about war, I don’t think of the negative words that come to mind like many people do, I think of the respect those men deserve for standing in the front line, in the line of fire, to protect strangers that they don’t even know. These soldiers serve our whole country and so do their families. His or her families go through sacrifice in order for everyone else to be free. Soldiers give up their life for this country. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.

When reading “Here Bullet” by Brian Turner, my first response was not someone loading a gun, not someone shooting the gun, and not someone being shot by the gun. But in fact I thought of who that person was with the gun. What kind of courage that they must have in order to even be in that position or situation. Sometimes its not the effects of the war that matter, its the people that are fighting for the cause and whether or not they come home safely that matters. In line 6 it states, “Here is the adrenaline rush you crave”. This “adrenaline rush” can come from a numerous amount of things. For me, if I were in that situation, that “rush” would come from just knowing that I am making a difference. People might not know my individual name but they will know that I was part of a cause that made history. So next time you read a poem about war, don’t think of the negative words that will pop into your head because there will always be negative words surrounding a battlefield, think about the difference those soldiers are making every second just so you can say you live in a free country. Everyday should be a day that we pause, reflect upon, and recognize the great service and sacrifice of those who protect and defend our freedom and this country. Everyone should have time to take a moment in your busy lives and realize that because of these brave young people and the grace of God, you are able to be free and make choices about how you live your life.