unclear
just on the edge of memory
they remain unknown
yet their strength
their frequency push me
push me closer
to the edge of insanity
"Look away, Look away..."
I wake singing
with a fervor
i cannot touch
the dream
that causes
my sleeping self
to sing
"Look away, look away..."
Smelling smoke I wake
does my soul
visit another time
have I created
too long
blurring the line
between reality and sanity
"Look away, look away..."
I've read
you can
control your dreams
so each night i try
for clarity
to find an answer
i have to know
"Look away, look away..."
The battle field lays
smoke covered wet with blood
flag staff firmly in hand
our ragged regiment charges
a musket ball
rips through me
must display the colors
"Look away, look away..."
The dream is real
another man
picks up the flag
the standard flies again
i fall
to the Rebel yell and
wake singing
"Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land."
Note: The average life of a standard or flag bearer in battle was two to three minutes. Six to nine men were assigned to protect and fly the standard as a rallying point in battle. It was a position of honor. It was considered an act of bravery to capture the standard of an enemy.
Posted for
Imaginary Garden With Real Toads
Copyright Gail Williams October 2014
