They unloaded the dead and maimed right before our eyes
They washed out the blood, we loaded our ruck’s and then took to the skies
Over the mountains, villages, and valleys we flew
Where we would land we had not a clue
Bullets are flying, the LZ is hot
We’re leaving this bird whether we like it or not
30 seconds they yelled, Lock N Load and grab your shit
Get ready to go and make it quick
My heart is pumping adrenalin through all of my veins
I run as fast as I can through the lead rain
The noise is tremendous, terror I can’t define
The only reason I survived that day was divine
I kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some more
You do what you have to do, with that I will say no more
We fought from the valleys to the mountain peaks
From house to cave, to car to creek
Dirty and tired and hungry and scared
We slept with our boots on so we were always prepared
Those majestic mountains so steep, so high they kiss the skies
The Hindu Kush has changed so many lives
Up the mountains with heavy loads we trod
Who knew hell was so close to God
Beauty and terror are a strong mixed drink
So we drank it like drunkards and tried not to think
Good men and bad men, Mothers lost son’s
Everyone loses their innocence when they carry guns
Washed in the blood, and baptized by fire
I will never forget those who were called higher
They say blood is thicker than water, well lead is thicker than blood
Brothers aren’t born they’re earned. In the poppy fields, the tears, and the mud
And when I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tell
Another Paratrooper reporting for duty sir, I spent my time in hell
Steve Carlsen
Task 1
Background
This poem basically talks about the war in Afghanistan, more specifically Hindu Kush, as mentioned in the poem.
The conflict in Afghanistan started after the September 11 attack, the most devastating terrorist act in American History, killing around 3,000 people. The Al-Qaeda was confirmed to be responsible for this act of terror after the hijackers of the airplanes were identified to be linked to the Al-Qaeda.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the US Government decided to respond militarily to terrorism, and readied its armed forces to strike the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which was suspected to harbour the Al-Qaeda. This act of counter-terrorism is called the Operation of Enduring Freedom, which was launched along with the British Military in October 2001 in response to the September 11 attacks. President Bush said: "This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while."
The aim of this operation is to capture high-ranking Al-Qaeda leaders and destroy the organisation with the Taliban regime which supported it.
There were many strikes and protests against this operation against terrorism, which was once again energized by current US President Obama's decision to send in 30,000 US troops in the hope of ending the campaign there faster.
The conflict lasted until now... Al-Qaeda's presence in the Hindu Kush mountain ranges made the US forces shift their operations there.
The combat over there is basically desert warfare. The terrain there is rugged and have many mountain ranges. Primary transport there are jeeps and helicopters.
References:
Task 2
(1) Point of View
The point of view presented in this poem is of a soldier, or of the poet himself.
The evidence is that the poet used words like "our", "we", "I" and "my".
These words show that the poet is describing how they were feeling and what they were doing.
It was also shown that they are soldiers as in line 27, it wrote "Everyone loses their innocence when they carry guns". Soldiers are always illustrated as people in uniform, carrying guns.
(2) Situation/Setting
Words like "LZ"(Landing Zone) and "bird"(Slang for helicopter) suggests that the situation of the poem was that the soldiers were getting off from a helicopter.
The situation was also very tense and "hot", as there are bullets flying every where and the poet himself might get shot or killed easily.
The evidence that bullets are flying every where is the "through the lead rain", and that one can be easily killed are "The only reason I survived that day was divine" and "when I get to heaven"
The soldiers were seen fighting through mountains and valleys at the Hindu Kush mountain ranges, evidence are "from valleys to mountain peaks", "majestic mountains", "up the mountains" and "Hindu Kush".
(3) Language Diction
Rhyme scheme was used in this poem as AABBCCDD...
... right before our eyes (A)
... took to the skies (A)
... valleys we flew (B)
... we had not a clue (B)
and so on...
(4) Personal Response
I feel that this poem is well-written, as it clearly brought out the terrors of combat, war.
It also introduced many slangs used by the soldiers, like "bird" and "Lock N Load".
This poem suggests that as long as you went to Afghanistan to fight, you are nothing but a man who is going to die fighting for his country, no way to define you as "good" or "bad". You are nothing but a lost son of your parents.
He suggested that the battlefield is hell, which more or less, I agree to a certain extent.
But he mentioned a little something gained from war, the brotherhood that exists in between the soldiers, after fighting alongside one another. But this sounded like brotherhood that was out of desperation, when they were all reduced to nothing.
