Bill’s Camp
On the hill above Altamura
stood Campo 65
ten thousand soldiers
they marched beneath
the sun’s relentless blaze
uniforms in tatters, lice covered
only children throwing bread
a lifeline, a taste of freedom
days stretched long
like shadows blend
telling jokes and tales and then
of dreams, ideas and whispered plans
the quest for life with open hands
a few brave ones attempt escape
Bill’s heart beats loudly in the night
the shadows watch, indifferent
as thoughts turn now to flight
Bill gets as far as ten feet
before the guards
snatch him back with iron grip
he dared to cross the line
in his mind a flicker survives
for though they grasp him back to pain
he stood on the edge of fate
ready to leap, to break their chains
for freedom never waits
Now outlines stand like shadows cast
guard posts soldiered against the past
wooden barracks in splintered rest
lives reduced to ghosts at last
among the weeds lost tokens lie
ashtrays cradle silent smokes
spoons that stirred the early morn
letters received in trembling hands
Red Cross parcels, fragile strands
This is the fifth in a cycle of poems about my granddad (in-law). The last poem dealt with the dramatic sinking of the POW vessel and his lucky escape. After an arduous winter in Greece Bill finds his way to a camp in Southern Italy. Once again this poem touches on questions of escape and the human spirit to overcome.
There's a lot to unpack in this poem. I loved the imagery of the shadows blending. Really the imagery throughout was rather striking. "Spoons that stirred the early morn"? You paint an entire scene with that line alone! Really superb writing.
Thank you for your superb comment.
Well done. Reading this poem reminds me of the book "Band of Brothers"
Thanks for reading
You're welcome
inspirador el poema, me recuerda las historias que he leido
I'm glad you liked it.