Term 2 LA ACE BLog Post 9 - HBL Part 2

They unloaded the dead and maimed right before our eyes
They washed out the blood, we loaded our rucks and then took to the skies
Over the mountains, villages, and valleys we flew
Where we would land we had not a clue
Bullets are flying, the LZ is hot We're leaving this bird whether we like it or not
30 seconds they yelled, Lock N Load and grab your shit
Get ready to go and make it quick
My heart is pumping adrenalin through all of my veins
I run as fast as I can through the lead rain
The noise is tremendous, terror I can't define
The only reason I survived that day was divine
I kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some more
You do what you have to do, with that I will say no more
We fought from the valleys to the mountain peaks
From house to cave, to car to creek
Dirty and tired and hungry and scared
We slept with our boots on so we were always prepared
Those majestic mountains so steep, so high they kiss the skies
The Hindu Kush has changed so many lives
Up the mountains with heavy loads we trod
Who knew hell was so close to God
Beauty and terror are a strong mixed drink
So we drank it like drunkards and tried not to think
Good men and bad men, Mothers lost sons
Everyone loses their innocence when they carry guns
Washed in the blood, and baptized by fire
I will never forget those who were called higher
They say blood is thicker than water, well lead is thicker than blood
Brothers aren't born they're earned. In the poppy fields, the tears, and the mud
And when I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tell
Another Paratrooper reporting for duty sir, I spent my time in hell

1)Point of View: This poem is written from the point of view of a soldier who had to fight on the battlefield. This can be seen from "I kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some more" and "We fought from the valleys to the mountain peaks". These two sentences imply that the soldier had to shoot lots of bullets from his gun, and almost everywhere they went they fought enemies.


2)Situation and Setting: The setting in the poem is Afghanistan. The poet wrote this poem when he was serving as a soldier in his army years and he states that “The Hindu Kush has changed so many lives” in his poem. The Hindu Kush is is an 800 km (500 mile) mountain range that stretches between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. The poet also states “Good men and bad men, Mothers lost sons”. This goes to show how bad the situation was at that time. Innocent people were killed mercilessly.

3)Language/Dictation: The poet used vivid descriptions in his poem. Some examples are “Those majestic mountains so steep, so high they kiss the skies” and “Washed in the blood, and baptized by fire”. These two sentences alone allow us to imagine the beautiful scenery of the majestic mountains and how much blood was dripped during the war.

4)Personal Response: I really enjoyed reading this poem. I feel that it is extremely meaningful and it truly brings out how much suffering, bloodshed and deaths which war results in. It also brings out the intense atmosphere in which one has to be vigilant at all times and never let their guard down.