Carl Martin Johnson
Poet, Author, Slayer of Dragons
WAR SONG - The poems on these pages are dedicated to the "song" of human combat. The honor, the bravery, the sacrifice.....and the horror, blood and death. It is neither a glorification nor a condemnation of war. It seeks to give some insight into one of the major occupations of Man from the very beginning of humanity. -Carl Martin Johnson
© Carl Martin Johnson, All rights reserved
A SOLDIER’S PRAYER
By Carl Martin Johnson
God, I feel you ‘round me,
In the earth and air.
I am grateful that you found me.
Please accept a soldier’s prayer.
Make me compassionate, though brave.
Be saddened when I’m killing.
Try when I can to save
Though to fight hard be willing.
Let not my heart be cruel,
When protect my land I must.
But with courage my sword fuel,
When my cause is just.
And when Your angels take me,
With warrior’s honor may I die.
Lord, do not forsake me.
I am a soldier, and I try.
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UNCLE BILLY
By Carl Martin Johnson
They found my Uncle Billy today.
He’d been dead for a long time.
Police said there was no foul play,
But his death was still a crime.
Letters and medals hung on his wall,
Attesting to his valor.
A Purple Heart above them all,
Saluting his lifeless pallor.
The bullet at last had found him,
Though it came from his own gun.
Chains of life no longer bound him.
Despair had finally won.
He was no more alone.
Not forgotten, like down here.
Warrior souls just like his own
Made loneliness disappear.
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ONE MORE HILL
By Carl Martin Johnson
One more hill to take.
One more battle to be fought.
Primal fear will reawake.
No victory is cheaply bought.
Yet he’d move forward as before.
He had no cowardice in his heart.
He’d wade through the blood and gore.
He would more than do his part.
He was a warrior …..he would fight,
Though body and soul in pain.
If he made it through the night,
In the dawn he’d war again.
He turned his eyes up to the sky.
The stars would help him pray.
He knew he would not die.
It was Thanksgiving Day.
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NEW MAN DYING
By Carl Martin Johnson
That man dying there
I only met tonight.
He is from the South somewhere.
Seems they always fight.
I’d crawl to him if I could.
Maybe stop his bleeding.
I’m also hit real good.
But I can’t block his pleading.
The look in his wet eyes,
I’ve seen a lot before.
Heard those weakening cries
Calling at Heaven’s Door.
I’ll try to make it to him.
I can’t stand to hear him moan.
I can’t say I knew him,
But I won’t let him die alone.
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THE SOLDIER’S LETTER
By Carl Martin Johnson
He held the letter tight.
It was spattered with his blood.
He had not survived the fight,
Now lay lifeless in the mud.
Yet a smile was on his face,
Warm, though it was frozen.
What thought did he embrace
When he became Death’s chosen?
I unpried the cold, clamped fingers.
Maybe the note would give a clue
To the memory that lingers,
That death could not undo.
Most of the writing was obscured.
Crimson covered and dried.
I prayed he had endured
To read the script inside.
“Dear Charlie”, it began
After that, much was hidden.
Then “I’ll see you when I can.
I don’t care if I’m forbidden.”
“My darling, don’t you die.
I will be here waiting.
Every day I will cry,
Until we’re celebrating.”
“I will count the days.
My love gets ever stronger.”
But the way this damn war plays,
She’ll have to wait much longer.
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I SAW THE ENEMY CRYING
By Carl Martin Johnson
I saw that he was crying
As I aimed and fired.
I don’t think he minded dying.
I think he was too tired.
I had so many killed.
My soul was cold and hardened.
Its emptiness could not be filled.
I knew I’d not be pardoned.
My enemy looked into me,
He felt my longing for the grave.
It was as if he knew me,
And his murder he forgave.
He smiled, then jerked and fell.
For him the war was done.
I’d keep living in this hell.
It was he who’d really won.
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DANGER CALLED
By Carl Martin Johnson
Danger called me to her side
To tell me we would wed.
She was a willing bride,
But warned my blood she’d shed.
In return she would excite,
Give me thrills beyond compare,
If only I would fight
When called to that hard dare.
I am not her only spouse.
She has chosen others.
We all share honor’s house.
All of us are brothers.
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LONG TIME COMING
By Carl Martin Johnson
Today’s been a long time coming.
One chance, then long time gone.
I hear the battle march drumming,
Bringing a wondrous dawn.
A grand thing will be done.
I feel the strength within.
A great victory will be won,
But this day will not come again.
I am ready for the test.
It will not find me shy.
This day will be my best,
Until the day I die.
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I AM ONLY ONE
By Carl Martin Johnson
I am only one.
But one can be enough,
If it’s a man who will not run,
And is made of the right stuff.
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SOAR
By Carl Martin Johnson
Soar up into the sky.
Leave the killing fields behind you.
Go where nothing makes you cry,
Where no bad memories can find you.
Where there is no more dying.
Where there is no more pain.
Where angels stop your crying
At the door of their domain.
Soldier go there now.
Your battle here is won
Your soul will show you how.
Close your eyes and it is done.
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LOOK AT MY LIFE
By Carl Martin Johnson
Look closely at my life, young man.
I was once like you.
Every race there was I ran.
Not a thing I wouldn’t do.
I had no fear of hurt or death.
Never shirked a fight.
I ate life with every breath,
Charged boldly into night.
But I met defeat at last,
By an enemy much stronger.
It was Time who ruled my youth had passed.
I was invincible no longer.
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MAKE ME BRAVE
By Carl Martin Johnson
Great God, make me brave.
This day I fight for You.
If night finds me in my grave,
Let my valor have been true.
Your Son died for me,
Suffered more than I could bear.
Weak sinner that I be,
Tell Him today I did my share.
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OLD MEN
By Carl Martin Johnson
Old men dream warrior dreams,
Be they simple men or chief.
They have no time for schemes.
Their days left are too brief.
Every dawn they greet the sun
As an unexpected friend,
Another victory won
In their battle with the end.
One night they will keep sleeping,
Called to a warrior’s rest,
Held warmly in God’s keeping.
Old men’s final quest.
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SOLDIER DYING
By Carl Martin Johnson
He looked over his shoulder
At my torn body in the dirt.
He saw my life-fire smolder.
Knew I’d not survive the hurt.
His bayonet had found me,
Plunged deep into my heart.
I was leaving the world around me.
That journey would soon start.
For an instant in his eye
I saw regret for what he’d done.
But we soldiers do not cry.
Our wars must be won.
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AFTER THE WAR IS OVER
By Carl Martin Johnson
“Make sure you look me up,” he yelled.
“After this goddamned war.”
I barely heard…we were being shelled
And his Med Evac was far.
But I threw him a big wave,
‘Cause Paco was the best.
Little bastard sure was brave,
Head an’ shoulders ‘bove the rest.
He had a goofy smile
When the bad guys hit us hard.
When I had to sleep a while,
It was Paco took my guard.
Now I stand before this wall.
We both came very far.
Buddy, I found you after all
After our goddamned war.
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BLACK LIKE ME
By Carl Martin Johnson
You can’t see under my cammo.
My skin’s a mystery.
I use the white man’s ammo,
But there are warriors black like me.
You know, we bleed red, too.
Like the rest in my platoon.
I get scared bad just like you,
‘Cause death might find me soon.
I don’t know if I’m brave,
But you won’t see me run.
There’s no color past the grave.
White and black are one.
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BEGONE DEATH
By Carl Martin Johnson
Begone, Death….I defy you.
You have no hold on me.
For now I will deny you.
‘Til God’s angels set me free.
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THESE ARE NOT TEARS
By Carl Martin Johnson
These are not tears running down my cheek.
I am sure it must be rain.
A sobbing man is shamefully weak,
No matter what the pain.
I am combat hardened,
Accustomed to much death.
My enemies go unpardoned.
I cut off their final breath.
But this battle is one too far.
Piles of dead and dying.
I am sick and tired of war.
It is my soul that is crying.
One day men will kill no more.
That is what I pray.
My bloody actions I abhor.
The scenes won’t go away.
Yet warrior is what I am.
I disdain to weep.
Rain, not tears, by damn.
Although my hurt is deep.
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AMBUSH SERENADE
By Carl Martin Johnson
The songbird sang soft to me,
Heralding the dawn
Innocent to what would be.
The bloody mission I was on.
Had he known why I was there,
That my purpose was to kill,
His song, sung sweet and clear,
Would change to harsh and shrill.
I could not hear the enemy creep
Over the morn song of that bird.
And, when the bayonet cut deep,
It was the last sound that I heard.
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COME, DEAR NIGHT
By Carl Martin Johnson
Come, dear Night, surround me.
I am tired and I must sleep.
They who hunt me have not found me.
Pray my secret keep.
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THE NEW MAN
By Carl Martin Johnson
His new uniform was clean,
Except for all the blood.
His wounds not the worst I’ve seen,
Yet they killed him where he stood.
We laid him straight and cleaned his face
When the firing stopped.
I looked for his tags, but not a trace.
When we moved him guess they dropped.
His glazed eyes were open wide,
Disbelieving of his fate.
Amazed he’d so soon died.
Should have prayed, but now too late.
He was dropped in just that morning.
His luck was such a traitor.
Suddenly, and without warning,
The bad guys hit us seconds later.
I could not read his name.
Too much damage to his shirt.
I felt a sense of blame
That he lay nameless in the dirt.
So I memorized his features,
Made sure I’d not forget,
He’d been one of God’s best creatures.
Who’d paid his honor’s debt.
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THE HORROR IN MY EYES
By Carl Martin Johnson
Did you see it, friend,
The horror in my eyes?
Did you know it was the end?
Did it take you by surprise?
I thought it would be me
Dead in that stinking mud.
It was my life I could see
Flying off for good.
Your bayonet grazed my ear.
Your spit sprayed my lips.
Then I pulled my knife to spear,
And you drank blood in bubbly sips.
I held you close and tight
While my blade released your sigh.
I’m sorry we had to fight.
I hate you had to die.
Soon one of you will kill me,
Leave me bleeding out and crying.
The horror in my eyes he’ll see
Will be the terror of my dying.
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WAITING FOR THE FIGHTING
By Carl Martin Johnson
In the black night I lie here,
Listening to the sound
Of battle, seems close by here,
And I flinch at every round.
It will reach me soon.
In this one I might die.
I wish there was a moon
That I could tell goodbye.
I’ve been through this before,
But this night I’m near sure.
I feel my end in store.
My luck just can’t endure.
I wish I’d had a son
To carry on my name.
Tell the medals his dad won.
Brag about my fame.
I’ll pray I die well,
Hiding all my fear.
So my brothers cannot tell
My cowardice is near.
I try to think of happy things.
That only makes me sad.
If that’s what memory brings,
I wish mine was bad.
Once adrenalin gets flowing
I won’t think at all.
If I’m scared, it won’t be showing.
I’ll just fight until I fall.
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CHASE ME IF YOU DARE
By Carl Martin Johnson
Chase me if you dare!
Kill me if you can!
This warning I will share:
I'm no ordinary man!
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