“in The Childs Eyes” Poem by Fergal Dunne

The sun shone but not for me
Or Lisa for that matter.
It dipped behind the plumb of thick black smoke
Moments before it could dry her tears.
The tears made the blood run in streaks and lines
From cheek to jaw.
She already had that blank look
I had seen it before. I could feel it.
That look,
When someone’s blood splatters across your face.
First warm then cold
The taste on your lips
Then confusion - is it mine?
What has happened? - Am I hit?
Oh God please don’t let me be deformed
But I feel no pain - I can’t be dead?
I’m crying so I must be alive,
Why am I crying?
The transistor radio had survived the blast
It played Elton John “Rocket Man”
Ironic - hey!
Lisa had dropped her rifle
She stood just beside the huge crater,
A mangled vehicle greedily swallow by the hole.
A snipers dream girl
One shot heaven.
I pushed her hard against a doorway.
The officer had taken the full blast,
His blood splashed across the brick wall,
Tissue and skin flaked the door.
The door collapse under our weight,
I fell on top of her.
I looked up a child squatted before me,
We had missed her by inches
Someone whisked the child away.
The ringing in my ears was still fresh
The support helicopter drowned out everything
Blades ripping through the resistant air.
Lisa kept repeating “The Child”
I could feel her sleepless nights
This hot day on constant re-call
Sweat, tears, fear, bloodstains.
The blood would splash across her face
Many more times.
Thanks for the medal thanks for the memories.
Me,
I just remember the child’s eyes.