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Whirling of blades, clouds of dust
Screaming, suffering, litters of men
Crimson covered deck
Water of red flushing
Rinsing away the horrors of man
His uniform is ***** and wreaks
Dirt that isn’t dirt
He stumbles into the showers
Dazed in a trance, shock
Dropping his rifle, pistol falling to the ground
Standing under the cold rain
Dust and dirt, wash away
Water of crimson
Mud that isn’t mud
Guilt so heavy, he cannot breathe
Death all around him,
Yet he lives Why?
Brothers and sisters, gone
Yet he remains, why?
Guilt overwhelming
Pain, searing pain.
Yet he lives.
Unworthy, full of guilt
Crumped in the shower
Unworthy
He weeps for the fallen
Written as a cathartic outlet - therapy.  Operation Desert Storm - Battle of al-Khafji
The cadence of the drill sergeant, a ghost in the present,
echoes in the rhythm of my pen.
Discipline forged in the crucible of steel,
now fuels the fire of my art.
The enemy then, the fear, the loss,
a distant memory, yet the weight of loyalty remains.

My love, an artist, paints with colors I cannot name,
capturing the essence of the soul,
a symphony of emotions, a dance of light and shadow.
She is the muse, the inspiration,
the reason this heart still beats with a fierce, protective rhythm.

The scars run deep, both physical and unseen,
reminders of battles fought and won.
But the greatest battle, the one that truly matters,
is the fight for her, for our love.
This fragile, precious bloom,
deserves the fiercest protection.

The Marine within, dormant yet ever-present,
would rise, a silent guardian,
against any threat, any darkness that dares to touch her.
His loyalty, once sworn to the Corps,
now belongs to her,
a love that transcends all boundaries.

In the quiet moments, when the world fades away,
I see her eyes, reflecting the stars,
a universe of emotions, a love that knows no bounds.
And in that reflection, I find my strength,
a renewed sense of purpose,
a love that would die for her, a thousand times over.

The poet and the Marine, two sides of the same coin,
bound by a love that defies definition.
A love that heals, that inspires,
that gives life new meaning.
And in that love, I find my peace,
a solace that surpasses all understanding.
I wrote this as a testament to my love.  The old Marine in me isn't gone, just dormant, and I will fight for her to the end, because of the love.  In the end, isn't that what we are all fighting for?
In memory of the fallen heroes, I stand
A US Marine who bore witness to war's hand
Bravery and sacrifice, are etched in my mind
As I carry the weight of the ones left behind

Medals shine brightly on my chest
But they feel heavy, a constant test
For I did not earn them, not truly
The real heroes are gone, so unruly

Gallantry, Valor, Honor, Hero
These words now feel so hollow
For it was my brothers who truly deserved
To be honored, respected, and preserved

I fought in battles afar, and I survived
While they lay on the battlefield, deprived
Of the chance to come back home
To their families, where they truly belong

I am unworthy of these accolades
For I live, while they lie in their graves
Their memory lives on in my heart
As I carry their legacy, I am never apart

So here lies a US Marine
Proud to have served, yet still unseen
For the real heroes are the ones who fell
Amid the battle, where they dwelled

Rest in peace, my brothers in arms
For you are the true heroes, with all your charms
I will never forget the sacrifices you made
And I will honor you, until my final day.
Lacey Clark Sep 2024
oh, the surface tension,  
holding the wild beneath,  
where I float, buoyant,  
the cool water kisses my skin,  
a sweet moment of clarity,  
where i'm a welcome guest,
the deeper i go.

fish dart around    
homes in coral,   
sea anemones swaying,  
little dancers in the blue haze,  
snakes gliding on the sandy floor,  
that octopus, oh, the octopus!
the wizard of disguise,   
hiding beneath the shells,  
soft moss a velvet carpet.  

the turtles,  
gentle giants, drifting,  
letting the current cradle their shells,  
the waves pulse and heave,  
wild and electric,  

all of us,  
the fish, the plants,  
in syncopation,  
we flow together,
drifting this way,
and that way.
snorkeling is my happy place <3
Josephine Wild Dec 2023
Mar
The dolphins display
splashing pepper spray.

Marred marine
toxic plastics
flow through
the Gulf Stream
and blood streams
of Fish, Bird, and Man.

None safe in water.

None safe
on land.
Just came up with on a whim while looking at sketches of dolphins that I drew a while back.
Brumous Nov 2021
I've dreamt of floating near the coral reef,
with fishes swarming around me
Although concerns swallow it,
I'm afraid to dive deeper.
Should I breathe?

-Br.
Raven Feels Jun 2021
DEAR PENPAL PEOPLE, for the first time in forever I speak directly for no reason:)

happy
guess what sad
literally don't know who I am

somebody is always touching you even the air
guess how many lives you touched not me
and you'll reach the middle of nowhere

want my body buried dug in the ocean deep a marine funeral
guess why the death is thinking about me
corpses floating around some fish some greens too numeral

maybe the sun today the last time sets flush
guess where I'm headed would be the end of me
make the best out of it is a matter that won't make me blush


                                                         ­                                  -------ravenfeels
Daivik Dec 2020
When I lived by the ocean
I used to see
The mighty blue sea
Which in turn saw me
With its ever azure eyes

Its tides used to rise
With the coming of night
And descend slowly
With the advent of light

I was always welcomed by
It's snow white crest
Which washed itself by the bay
I used to watch with wonder
The birds by its quay

The sound of the waves
Was like the song of the sea
Which brought with itself
Ships, salts, sand
And faraway land's numerous stories

The swash and backwash
Were like ballet of nature
Performed by the sea
Which I used to see
As the sea saw me
With Its ever azure eyes
As its tides used to rise
Sometimes low sometimes high
Zack Ripley May 2019
Today I stand beside you to honor those we love.
The ones who made it home, the ones still fighting, and the ones called to guide us from above.
Today, when they sing the national anthem, don't be surprised if you see me cry. It represents everything that makes me proud to be semper fi.
Today, it doesn't matter where you come from.
If you're here, you're American at the core.
Today, we celebrate everything we're fighting for.
Today, we'll visit our parents, daughters and sons
And tell them their war is over
"You can finally rest in peace. It's okay. Lay down your guns."
Whether you're a soldier, seal or marine, thank you for shielding us from all the things you see that should never be seen.
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