Home learning Task 1

We slept with our boots on by Steve Carlson

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

I found a brief biography of Steve Carlsen on the internet. Steve Carlsen was born and currently lives in Dowagiac Michigan. He was recruited the United States Army in October 2000 and went through Infantry Basic Training, and Airborne School in Ft. Benning Georgia. He then reported to D Company 1st battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. 82nd Airborne Division in Ft. Bragg North Carolina. In November 2001, he was deployed to Kosovo as part of peace keeping operations. He was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2002 where he participated in combat operations. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 2003. He currently attends Southwestern Michigan College where his professor, Dr Michael Collins inspired him to write about his experiences when he was in the army. (Source: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html)

This poem is based on Steve Carlsen’s war experience in Afghanistan and his feelings. The poem also depicts the scenes and life of a solider during war time. The first 5 lines show the soldier getting ready to land for his operation. He feels clueless about where to land. He unwillingly lands in the middle of a battlefield and dashes for cover from the bullets. The soldier feels scared, terrified and fires back to defend his life. The poem continues to show how the soldier and his platoon mates fought in different terrains and their feelings of fear. They also make sure that they were prepared at all times. It also show that once a person takes up a gun to kill and witness deaths, he or she will be changed completely. That person would not possess any innocence and fear of death.