Tuesday, April 26, 2011

no winners left

they say War Will Die
left bleeding
on the side of the street;

dust on blind men's blades,
still warm and
lips in sneers
They want to sing rosy cheeked
kids to sleep before

darkness reaches them
and the scent of steel still
on their tongues as they
lick their way up her
thighs to drink to life, to

shut out the swords, the spears,
the coughed blood and
the - he didn’t make it...

They greedily gulp
humid warmth, suck
parted lips, tasting freedom and

See the trenches in her softness

There are no
winners left


..woo hoo it's One Shot Wednesday again and the wonderful Adam Dustus will be your host tonight...write a poem and join us or just jump over to read what some fine poets brought to the table..sign up opens at 5 pm EST

49 Comments:

ChrisAu said...

yes...there are no winners in war...only mourners! It's an awakening piece of poem. Have a good week, Claudia.

Who Is Afraid of Alfred Hitchcock? said...

Hi! Claudia...
Your words in your poetry today is very..."though-provoking" and every word ring so true.

[Whenever, I watch the news [Which is only or always International news...

I'am always dis-heartened because it always seems that there is no end in sight to the fighting in the world.

(Truly over nothing, but greed, territory, religion, etc,etc,etc...to me they are like children...

Therefore, the question is how do they teach their children not to fight?)
Thanks, for sharing!
DeeDee :-/

Brian Miller said...

claudia, you take us on the edge of imagery that is sensual yet disturbing on one level...war sucks, there are no winners and its just as bad as empty sex when it comes to getting off on it...

James Rainsford said...

'They greedily gulp
humid warmth, suck
parted lips, tasting freedom and

See the trenches in her softness

There are no
winners left'

After a thoughtful and intelligent write we get this brilliantly imaginative finale. The imagery is moving and vivid. Well done.

Nessa said...

You always bring us such powerful images.

Jinksy said...

War always equals no winners...

Maha said...

I excessively like how this was worded

dustus said...

"shut out the swords, the spears,
the coughed blood and
the - he didn’t make it..."

Vivid poetry loaded with possible meanings.

Dulce said...

the scent of steel still
on their tongues as they
lick their way up her
thighs to drink to life...(WOW to that!)

No winners left- never,ever
So true

Glynn said...

This is dark - like war. And truthful - unlike war. Good poem, Claudia.

anthonynorth said...

Beautiful, scary, powerful, subtle ... excellent.

moondustwriter said...

For some reason I'm pondering how poets get their inspiration to write a poem - I know so many different sources.

This piece is stark if it were a painting it would be red and black and screaming a statement and your words do the same
Well done

hope you are rested C

Anthony Desmond said...

such amazing imagery... the ending added a POW to an already strong poem.. great!

5thsister said...

I am continually amazed at the edginess and caliber of writing that appears on the pages of One Stop. This particular piece shot right through the heart with the insanity of it all.

Disconnected said...

Love it! I like it in its even cleaner shape, no fat left.wonderful work

kez said...

really powerful image written beautiful and with strength ..thank you

hedgewitch said...

Well said, claudia. the poem tumbles word, truth, image, logic and senses into confusion and darkness--just like war.

Matt Coughlan said...

If only people holding guns would read more poetry.

Belinda Munoz said...

This touches me at the core, Claudia. War is disturbing, and I hope to never ever understand it as a viable recourse. Not for democratic reasons, not for freedom, and definitely not for the so-called humanitarian reasons they tried to sell us on the Libyan war.

ayala said...

Vivid and powerful - truth spoken here there are no winners in war. Very moving!

signed...bkm said...

the perfect title for War...does it ever die or quietly sleep awaiting a rebirthing of blood shed with no winners....bkm

Timoteo said...

You've juxtaposed war and sex masterfully...the two most primal urges of mankind.

edenhills said...

What a poem! War is horrible whether it's on the battlefield or in the arena of romance.

Teresa

Asobime said...

I come here to your site, read your poetry and I am left with an enrichment.

Thank you, as a mother with a 23 year old son on a destroyer.

There are no winners in war. None.

Lady Nyo

haikulovesongs said...

brilliant!

sonny said...

being an army wife...i cudn't agree more...war sucks...truly...big time and you have captured the feelings with your words as brilliantly as ever claudia..

John (@bookdreamer) said...

And so we must listen to the pain and anger in our enemies least unto the seventh generation will the rage burn

Apryl Gonzales said...

The seduction of power and empty remains of war. So well written, right on!

Eric 'Bubba' Alder said...

"War. What is is good for? Absolutely nothing."

blueoran said...

Yes, war is for old men, the ones with dust on their own blades as they dispatch the young into the teeth of death. Less competition, I guess, or threat, from the next generation. This has a lot of gutshot ferocity in it. - Brendan

blueoran said...

Yes, war is for old men, the ones with dust on their own blades as they dispatch the young into the teeth of death. Less competition, I guess, or threat, from the next generation. This has a lot of gutshot ferocity in it. - Brendan

Louise Gallagher said...

Oh Wow -- this is so powerful and piercing in its truth.

Thank you Claudia!

LauraX said...

you've painted the pain of war and victim with excruciatingly exquisite detail Claudia. Hard to read for a tender hearted person...but we must all consider the pain of others as our own, no matter how hard that is to hold.

DeLi said...

so true.

Kim Nelson said...

the intensity of this piece is rightly highlighted by the black and red background of your site. Startlingly appropriate coincidence.
here is my One Shot:
http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2011/04/27/mourning-melody/

betweenhearts75 said...

Without any doubt war leaves its mark upon many. The effects last through generations, which is saddening because it creates further wars....incredible writing Claudia, I'm always amazed at your work, because it takes on a "life-form" even when writing of death, there is a "breath" ~April

yellowhousecafe said...

no winners, indeed...a very black and white poem with an apt reminder of how we all get used in war... edgy write ~

Joseph Hesch said...

So much sensual imagery in this piece decrying the horror and ultimate loss of war. Yet it works.
During one reading, a quote came to me from American Civil War General Robert E. Lee: "It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it." This was spoken by a man ultimately defeated in bloody war.
Your poem provokes so many thoughts and ideas, Claudia, and that's what art is supposed to be about.
Thank you so much.

lordemmanuel said...

Thrilling and disturbing image. The town war-torn, the women defiled, indeed no winners left.

Percy Freeman Jr. said...

"They want to sing rosy cheeked
kids to sleep before"

So many forget this part of war... beautiful poem

wkkortas said...

Visual and tightly drawn; fine, fine work.

Jerry said...

Interesting crossover between sensual war and sensual peace.
I recently went to an open mic poetry slam and heard a poem titled Big Daddy War...the delivery was powerful as well.
thanks Claudia.

Dasuntoucha said...

Intense wordplay and imagery that rings all too true...felt.

Olivia said...

I loved how you also aroused deep emotions along with sensual notes!

Balanced n evoking as well!

Very beautifully expressed about a grave issue.. there are no winners!

Hugs xox

Boonie S said...

Very eloquently expressed. Thanks for this.

All the best, Boonie

D.C. Lutz said...

Claudia,
This is a fantastic write!

"shut out the swords, the spears,
the coughed blood and
the - he didn’t make it..."

These lines just really punched me in the gut...and then the twisting in of such sensual imagery left me feeling a bit grungy and dirty...unable to wash off the scent of it all.
This one will stick with me for sure

Beachanny said...

Such a blues about war, Claudia. It grips at us constantly. It takes our happiness and we wonder at wars on wars and more wars and seemingly with no purpose but greed and blood thirst. You handled it well here. Gay

Tracie Skarbo said...

Powerful write that will stay with me for days to come... well done!

Rental Mobil 911 said...

Very nice, thanks for sharing. rental mobil