SILHOUETTED LURE... (One of my World War One poems...)

 Silhouetted Lure…

(One of my poems about World War One...)

I was uncertain

You see,

And hauled stinking, itchy legs,

Beneath bloodied puttees,

To reach the top,

As dusk silhouetted angular, sharp, broken

Saplings before me,

Which fascinated and drew me nearer,

Hearing not the words my Sergeant had spoken.

I was certain, 

You see

And stretched gashed, muddied arms, 

Beneath ripped sleeves,

To reach the wire,

As evening blackened twisted, barbed, keen

Metal before me,

Which lured and drew me closer,

Hearing not the rattle of guns unseen.

And I hung there,

Hopelessly.

And I smiled there,

Harmlessly.

And I died there,

Helplessly…

Pete Ray

Thought the barbs were twigs and I had wanted to 

embrace nature. 

I was wrong…