When He Was Young | Teen Ink

When He Was Young

November 17, 2011
By Melody777 GOLD, Tonasket, Washington
Melody777 GOLD, Tonasket, Washington
17 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you."


When he was young,
guns were just toys,
only a little boy.

Just the goofy kid,
could always make you laugh,
always had your back.

Now he’s older,
the day’s finally come,
for his father’s pride,
signing up.

Still only a boy,
dreams of bravado, courage,
shining medals,
movie reels.

And the first day,
when he starts to cry,
misses his family,
the girl he left back home,
he grows up.

And the first time he picks up a gun,
learns to shoot,
not just for fun,
first time he wins a fight.
feels the adrenaline, the addictive rush,
he knows he’s changed.

And now that he’s home,
such a long tour,
images burned in his shut eyes,
blood and terror, friends who died.

And he doesn’t talk much anymore,
about the scars of war,
girl he loved left a few years ago,
said he wasn’t the same,
said something had changed.

And now he sits alone,
with his shining medals,
remembering when guns were just toys,
and he was only a little boy.


The author's comments:
I wrote this poem for a Veteran's Day poetry contest. I wanted to show how the effects of war are lasting, they don't just disappear as soon as you come home.

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This article has 2 comments.


on Nov. 23 2011 at 11:33 am
thezebrasgray PLATINUM, Taylorsville, Utah
46 articles 0 photos 231 comments
very sad, very true, very beautiful

on Nov. 21 2011 at 12:34 pm
AngelHeart654 SILVER, Grand Island, Nebraska
8 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The perfect person is the last one in the tree"

Very nice!!