2009 MONTGOMERY COUNTY
YOUTH POETRY CONTEST

10-12 GRADE RUNNER UP

Anyone You Would Like to Call?
(Dedicated to a solider I never knew)
By Jack Rosenberg

Rushed by an exploding stench of burning metal
A penetrating pain
Shot from two independent limbs lost from my torso
I gathered the courage to open one eye,
A blur of echoing screams foamed out of horror stricken mouths.
I wrenched open my mouth to shout
And let those around me know that War had just f**ked me too.
But the cry was silence by millions who had shouted before me.
And as the doctor trotted closer and closer the urgency on his face dwindled.
Replaced by determination,
Determination,
To forget this s**t hole.
Determination.
To move on with his life
One knee on the ground he shouted
“Anyone you would like to call?”
With all hope clinging to every short ring
And my mind made up half way through second
That truth would bring her more pain than it was bringing me
And as her sweet hello interrupted the third all my prayers were answered
I said hey ma
I hope you're safe
I love you
It’s rough over here
I’ll see you soon.