In Memoriam by Peter Rivendell Short and bitter-sweet. [38 words]
Magazine by Peter Rivendell This poem was inspired by the Berlin novels of Christopher Isherwood (which inspired the musical "Caba... [251 words]
Twisted Racism by August Nyghts ....its been too taboo to talk about but it exists! Racism Sucks anyway you look at it. I am ju... [356 words]
Extinct by August Nyghts - [151 words]
Deep Water by Peter Rivendell Just another day. I know this feeling but we`re not close friends, fortunately. [107 words]
Cheated by J L Watts Wrote this in about half an hour, hope it doesn't tell! Inspired by Ted Hughes, and along the same line... [29 words]
.-Phobia-. by Jaycob Soriano A poem about the reason why i feel uneasy whenever i'm riding any vehicle. [5 words]
Wings by Keri McGriff - [17 words]
Whore by Jason ''The Bloodman'' Taylor Blood isn't always what vampires lust for.... [74 words]
Wake Up by Keri McGriff - [16 words]
Unspoken by Buxton My first ever entry here. Don't laugh. [71 words]
Unending by Lisa Diaz-Meyer Just a poem. [55 words]
Troubled Mind by J L Watts In this poem I have tried to show the anxities of life that we feel, through images of feelings t... [90 words]
Timebomb by David B Doc Byron A poem dedicated to the late Ted Bundy. [155 words]
Thoughtless Crime by Rowan Davies Another Ed Gein (The Plainfield Psycho) related poem. Well, no one reads my stuff unless it's... [155 words]
The Decision
The Darkness by Theresa A Myers A poem about darkness taking over. [61 words]
Run Away by Tessa I'm restless and have this insane need to get away from everyone and everything... maybe I just need a... [87 words]
Our Ignorance, Our Sight by Eric A Hofmann I just sat down and wanted to seek out the big picture of why we believe and act the w... [106 words]
Not Who I'm Supposed To Be by Pearl S I said it was poetry but it isn't really. I don't know what to call it, but it's the... [373 words]
Nightwalk by Peter Rivendell About walking alone at night. That`s it. [193 words]
Misguided Man by Eric A Hofmann I wrote this poem in my Study of Lit. class. It is about my bad relationship with my father. not... [67 words]
Love Still Whispers by George Wilson - [104 words]
Iraq Attack Part 3 by Stuart Eric Longridge Just following our great world wide movie. [260 words]
Into The Darkness by Tessa For The Devil. Thank you for corrupting my soul in the sweetest, slowest, and most gentle way... [229 words]
Imposter by David B Doc Byron A drug addict reflects back on her life after her arrest. [94 words]
His Shirt by Tessa Funny how a piece of clothing can stir up moments in time... [102 words]
Hangover by Tessa This is for Andrea... (And maybe Wade too, since he supplied most of our drinks!) For our night of cra... [139 words]
Green Eyes by Keri McGriff - [15 words]
Gorilla by Lawrence Peters - [169 words]
For The Devil by Tessa - [118 words]
Exorcism by Tessa For The Devil- I'm going back into the Light. I cannot stay in the dark- eternal damnation is just not... [98 words]
Exhausted by Tessa Rainy days... are sometimes downright depressing. Where is the sunshine?!?! This is what came out of ... [45 words]
.- Enigma -. by Jaycob Soriano A poem about paranoia. [17 words]
Death Of A Grandmother by Ashley Burdett I recently lost my grandmother and wrote a poem in her honor... [359 words]
Dancing Lights by Keri McGriff - [10 words]
Contemplating by Tessa Wrote this after I wrote Illumination when the Damn Devil was still hunting me... not sure if it'... [81 words]
As Of Yet Untiltled by Aaron Woodside Just wrote it one night on a whim. Not really sure if people can make sense out of it. I'... [125 words]
Abra Cadavera by David B Doc Byron The dead have a big party. [87 words]
Abomination by David B Doc Byron A poem dedicated to H.P. Lovecraft. [70 words]
3 A.M. by David B Doc Byron - [128 words]
Is It Worth It ? by Paul James Moore - [88 words]
Window by Tessa Broken hearts... Seems to be what's most written about. Found this last night. Written 01/28/96 after a ... [140 words]
When I Wrote A Poem.... by Muhammad Umer Gorsi This poem is just a humble effort which depicts the feelings of a juvenile, who very fi... [95 words]
What Will Happen Next? by Roberto J Moreno It's about traveling and time. [188 words]
Waiting And Waiting by Toluwalope Olugbenga Ogunlesi - [63 words]
Tombstones by David B Doc Byron You figure it out. [225 words]
The Trees (Control) by Peter Rivendell It`s up to you to decide. I know what I think. (Title: Control - but that was already taken... [161 words]
The Second Comings by Stuart Eric Longridge You have only to look outside the illusion. [466 words]
The Missing Link by Ryon Smith Comparable to my earlier work and work to come. Vision of my mind and soul. [87 words]
Taste Of Defeat by J L Watts Something you don't see a lot of is boxing poetry, so I have attempted the defeat of a boxer he... [91 words]
Sounds Of Silence And What I Can't Say by Pearl S - [358 words]
Soulful Drippings by Wandering Minstrel A few poems for those who disappear in the masses and moolight as ghosts. [216 words]
She Calls My Name by Roberto J Moreno It's just a poem I wrote out of mental blindness. [118 words]
Semblance by Joshua Ortiz Can one overcome the various trials of life? [192 words]
Richard From Richardson Tennessee by The Birdman My best work. [58 words]
Phase To Phase by August Nyghts Moments in my head. [159 words]
One Fateful Night by Diane Copeland Love poetry. [26 words]
My Addiction by Tessa I find myself addicted... [169 words]
Lovers Never Die by Sadaf Shahab A man is died He is born to die It never counts Why he died Who is died When he died If an... [37 words]
Love Denied by Jeffrey (George) Winter - [171 words]
Love And Sacrifice by David B Doc Byron Werewolves, man!!!!! [147 words]
Lifelights by David B Doc Byron You figure it out. [237 words]
Lies To Succumb To Her Passion by Reagan Rothe A poem I wrote about someone that is sometimes dear to me and sometimes not... I... [151 words]
Le Fabulous Adventour by Roberto J Moreno It's a poem about my ex and I on a trip we took to the Keys. [214 words]
Late Night Train by J L Watts Kind of my take on Jack the Ripper taking the 22.30 to London Paddington. [53 words]
Kierkegaards Mascaline Swan by Andrew French Experimental poetry. [49 words]
I Wait by Peter Rivendell Another tale of urban anxiety... probably as much a song as a poem. [133 words]
Forbidden Light by J L Watts Quite dark and I'm not sure it reveals anything, definitely need some lighter material! [28 words]
Faces by David B Doc Byron A deformed girl finds a way to become beautiful. [140 words]
Drowned by Peter Rivendell A lyric for a love song of sorts - [293 words]
Distortion by Peter Rivendell Written about a million years ago, but still makes a kind of sense...? [129 words]
Distance by J L Watts Remember not to critcise too much- I'm a fragile soul! Have I just inadvertly thrown myself to the lio... [43 words]
Bored Clouds Of A Scattered Sky by J L Watts Trying to capture the essence of boredom through nature references. Not entirel... [64 words]
Anguish by Tessa Found this poem recently. Wrote it in high school. My, was I a sad, sad girl. I remember those depresse... [93 words]
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TITLE (EDIT)
The Decision |
DESCRIPTION
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[1,133 words] |
AUTHOR
Mike Schiller |
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
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[January 2002] |
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (10)
A Reality Check For America (Essays) Charles Rangel wants to wrongfully enslave people of a particular age group, because in his mind their age makes them less worthy of human rights. In the past, people were enslaved on the basis of rac... [870 words] [History]
And So You Touch Me (Songs) This was one of two songs I wrote one night while feeling inspired. The Cathy Dennis influence is more obvious in this one, since it uses the words "touch me", although lots of songs use that phrase. ... [172 words] [Romance]
Keys To My Soul (Songs) I usually only write poetry. I wrote this and one other song one night after listening to a Cathy Dennis tape about a billion times. Her music consistently inspires me, although it is very rare for me... [418 words] [Romance]
Life On The Brink Of Death (Poetry) Poem by Mike Schiller, written January 29, 2006 [449 words]
Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here (Poetry) Note: although this was written in the format of a poem, it is an exact factual account of an incident i survived this october. Before the incident, i always supported gun control. Now gun control is ... [608 words]
That Which Heals All Wounds (Poetry) - [482 words]
The Enemy Within: How U.S. Corporations Orchestrate And Profit From The Deaths Of U.S. Soliders (Essays) - [1,258 words]
The Most Evil Hate Crime (Essays) I have not heard anyone on either side of the debate suggest that the adult world shoulder exclusive responsibility for a war, with or without a draft. Why would they? Those on the left and right who ... [1,375 words] [History]
Underneath The Stairs (Poetry) This poem was written in a few seconds. A girl emailed me with a description of a photo she had taken, which she wanted to feature in a book. She asked me to write a poem which could be used as a capt... [215 words] [Motivational]
Worse Than Terrorism (Essays) - [1,184 words] [History]
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The Decision
Mike Schiller
Calmly our teacher discussed
the developments with our class
my mind was elsewhere
off to college in only a few months
after four long years of high school
I was finally going to be free
so all this talk of current events
did little to distract me from my
thoughts and aspirations
after college I planned on going
on to medical school
I had always excelled in biology,
and my dream was to be a doctor
I was valedictorian, a straight �A� student
For once I could relax as graduation
was only three weeks away
My medical ambitions were accidental
My girlfriend had died of pneumonia
as I sat helplessly by her side in the hospital
I promised myself that I would study to be a doctor
so that other people wouldn�t have the endure
the pain I felt the day I lost her.
I haven�t dated since.
The bell startles me, and the teacher dismisses the class.
On my way home I stop at the comic book store
I know, I should�ve outgrown them by now
I actually have a huge collection, over 900 comics
lots of first issues, though to get those
it took months and months
of saving all the money I made working at the Gap
I�ve had to cut back on comics this year, though,
since I had to split the cost
of my first year�s tuition with my parents.
They just installed a new swimming pool,
so this year they said I needed to do my part
and chip in for my education.
Today, though, I�m going to treat myself
to some comics since I�ve already paid up my share
of the college costs for the year
I get home, and my father�s standing at the door
with a strange look on his face
He asks me to come into the living room and sit down
A letter arrived today, he tells me�
I won�t be going to college�
I�ve been drafted into the military.
No, I tell him, I�m not joining the military-
but he cuts me off and tells me I have no choice
He starts talking about learning �tough lessons� and �discipline�,
though I know he�s lying. he may believe his lies, but they�re still
lies.
I tell him I�m not going,
I�ll spend my life in hiding if I have to
He screams at me about doing what I�m told
and storms off into my room, takes my comics
and tosses them into the garbage.
He wails about patriotism and honor
Things he knows nothing about.
a patriot is someone who loves their country�s values
and war is not an American value,
it�s not even a human value�
But he won�t listen
He says he still controls my bank account, I�m under 18
My money is his, according to the law
He will force me to go, by denying me the money I earned
leaving me with no way out
The next morning they wake me up early
and drive me to the training camp I was assigned to
Barely even saying good-bye they drive away
leaving me in this strange place
by myself, though I�m surrounded by people
Quickly I learn that I�m now nothing more
than a piece of property in the eyes
of the people I�ve been entrusted to
I�m given orders, and told I don�t have the right
to question what I�m told to do�
I don�t have the right to say no to anything.
So much for our being a free country
Within weeks I�m not even living in our country
I�m in the middle east, on a U.S. base
training for this war that�s been going on for months
My parents bragged about supporting this war
as if they had any clue what it was about or
what was happening to their own son who was sent here
I�ve never been physically strong
in school I couldn�t carry more than two text books at a time
so I�m subjected to constant insults and ridicule
They force me to perform strenuous labor
in the hopes it will make me stronger, but that doesn�t happen
My strength was always my mind, but nobody here
is interested in my mind
to these people, I�m just an object, a disposable object.
One day, I collapse while jogging
the heat was too unbearable
I was dehydrated, and I felt sick
I hear the sergeant yelling at me but can�t even
figure out what he�s saying
I�m dizzy, delirious, my mind feels like it�s melting
the sergeant seems to be getting closer
I hear his voice grow louder
but my entire body is in pain,
weeks and weeks of labor I was never physically built for
exercises my doctors had always advised me against
nobody was willing to listen when I told them
I wasn�t able to do this, but they said,
�we don�t know the definition of the word can�t�
but I, the aspiring doctor know that all living things
are limited only to what their bodies will allow
and now my legs are swelling in agony
The feeling of paralysis overcomes me
I was never meant to be here
I was meant to be in medical school
and now my arms are melting in the sun
and my eyes are red, my head is throbbing,
and the veil of sleep creeps up on me
and I know I�m about to faint
when my right leg is lifted into the air
and I�m dragged across the field
and that angry voice, the sergeant, is
moving across the field with me
He�s dragging me, my face scraping against the dirt
and suddenly he stops for a moment
and then shoves me into some sort of short wooden box
and locks the door
I had heard about these, they�re used as disciplinary tools
they leave you there for days like an animal
as punishment for �disobedience�
I should be in a hospital getting medical treatment
not locked away in a box!
my conditions only worsen over the next day
my fever rises, but I�m able to sleep a little
I get bitten by insects I can�t even see
I couldn�t tell how much time went by,
but there was no light coming through the side
of the box when it happened
I heard a loud bang nearby, then several more,
the camp was under attack
nobody came for me
it only lasted a few minutes, the fire
which engulfed my body in those last moments of life
The last thing which entered my mind
was the painful realization
that my parents had never loved me
If they had, they wouldn�t have sent me to die in this war
they wouldn�t have cheered when this war was declared
The only thing they cared about was their self-image
So much so that my life meant nothing to them
in comparison to their desire
to perceive themselves as morally superior beings
and that was what I died for
I died so my parents could believe themselves �good citizens�
My parents had never voted, not once in their entire lives.
I was their sacrificial offering to nobody,
and their sacrificial offering to everybody.
As the fragments of my bones began to split into tiny pieces,
and my throat melted in flames fueled by my burning blood,
that final moment revealed but one truth�
By approving of my abduction and induction into that war,
By approving of the war itself,
By their complicity in the fate that befell me,
My parents were as responsible for my death
as the people who had dropped the bomb that killed me.
Some graduation present.
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READER'S REVIEWS (1)
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"This was really good. I really felt for the character in the story. The only thing I wondered about was...dont u have to be 18 to be drafted? Otherwise, it was well written." -- Michelle.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2003 Mike Schiller |
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
March 2003 |
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
2039
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