A Fallen Soldier

• Tayla Julien, Grade 7
• Poetry
• 2016

I see the enemy as they fire from the hills, the sky is suddenly lit with fire
I see red patches of blood littered across the sand
I see magnificent arching branches above me, one by one they fall
I see smoke lifting around me, a warning signal that we must run
I see my comrades fall to the ground, faster than the pounding in my heart
I hear gunshots all around me, I duck to avoid being hit
I hear shouts of pain and agony with messages for anyone who has the time to hear them
I hear myself crying and screaming but block them out by coughing and firing my rifle
I hear voices in the back of my head reminding me not to stop
I feel pain shooting through my legs from running all this way, but I don’t stop, I can’t stop
I feel a bullet lodge itself at the back of my neck and a scream fills the air, it’s probably mine
I feel woozy and my head falls to the side, my arms fall limp
I smell smoke, but not the kind that makes you cosy and warms you a night
I smell waste and I want to block my nose but I can’t move any muscle in my body
I taste no saliva as all life drains from my body, and I fall onto the sand, where I will take my last breath
I slowly inhale and after that there is nothing.