The Lie (poem) by Keith Rowley on AuthorsDen

The Lie
by Keith Rowley → (All Poetry by Keith Rowley)
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How many brave men and women must die for a lie...?
The Lie Beneath the trembling desert stars Amid the heat of hell There, in blood and shit and fear There! There my brother fell God Bless America! God Save the Queen! He died for your lies This shouldn’t have been. His dying breath caressed my cheek As I held him close, he tried to speak But death took hold, and glazed his eyes With silent prayers we made our goodbyes. God Bless America! God Save the Queen! We die for your lies This shouldn’t have been. On his knees he died in this far land In the roil of the heat and the parched yellow sand A warrior for peace, he was sent here to die His final words were ‘It’s a lie! It’s a lie..!’ God Bless America! God Save the Queen! He died for your lies This shouldn’t have been. His children will wail and his widow will weep His comrades will mourn, as we bury him deep What’s his life worth?” We think as we toil A bucket of sand and a barrel of oil. God Bless America! God Save the Queen! We die for your lies This shouldn’t have been. So enjoy your cheap gas if you think that you should We pay with out lives, and shed innocent blood I stand over my friend and I cannot but cry For another good man who died for a lie. God Bless America! God Save the Queen! He died for your lies This should never have been.

Reviewed by Diana Wiles

Reviewed on May 15, 2012

An excellent hard hitting poem reminiscent of Siegfried Sassoon....
Best wishes, Diana...

Reviewed by Lily of Lough Neagh C. Dennis-Woosley

Reviewed on May 2, 2012

Wonderful Keith, truly a masterpiece. My late husband died as a result of senseless war.

The Lily

Reviewed by A Serviceable Villain

Reviewed on December 14, 2008

Keith~!

Stern; provocative; Perfect!!

Always the best,

Lance

Reviewed by Dawn Anderson

Reviewed on September 19, 2008

This caused me to draw in a breath. Powerful, brash...excellent!

Reviewed by Axilea MU

Reviewed on December 13, 2007

Here's someone who speaks his mind!
You have the right words to point out the foolishness,
the waste.

Axilea

Reviewed by Charles Keller

Reviewed on October 10, 2007

Reminds me of the old joke: I thank GOD every day I'm an Atheist!

Great work! And thank you so much for your kind and generous reviews of my poems. I will keep my eyes open for your work too.

Reviewed by Miranda Mayer

Reviewed on August 21, 2007

I often watch these guys tooling around in their huge hummers, comfortably appointed in the large seats, sucking on an iced latt�; and I think how much they take for granted, and how little responsibility they are willing to take for the price that's being paid for the petroleum they're using. Then they have to audacity to put 'support your troupes' stickers on the back of these gas guzzlers.

There's a disgusting irony in that.

I think if they were 'enjoying' the side effects of this war more directly; if their children were being sent there as soldiers, or their family members, then maybe they'd be responsible. But I know that even that sometimes doesn't do the trick, and instead of give up any conveniences, they'll just become a die-hard patriot because it's more convenient that way.

Thanks for provoking the thought.

Reviewed by La Belle Rouge Poetess Of The Heart

This is the truth about the lie!

Reviewed by JASMIN HORST SEILER

Keith, this poem is gut wrenching, and so it should be, to die for love of loved ones or country is no crime, but to die for a lie, you hit the nail squarely on the head, you have done wonderfully expressed your feelings, I can relate, my dad died for a lie too.
He used to say had we taken a loaf of bread instead of guns, we could have been their brothers. The ryming is beautiful, God save America, God save the Queen, God save the soldiers that you cradled in your arms, this poem comes close to flanders field. thanks for sharing, and God bless you! Jasmin Horst

Reviewed by Cedric III

i dont understand war.
i dont watch the news EVER because it makes me angry.
like... when guys watch a rugby game on tv and start yelling at the players and abusing the ref... im like that when it comes to watching the news... im always answering the reports back and all...
its just healthier if i dont watch it lol

but yes...
faught for king and country and for what?
im convinced that the soldiers are promised soemthing more than they ever attain when they go into battle for their country.
and i think its a complete sham.
especially when they make it home and hardly anything has changed and ppl dont realise the sacrifices made.
and for those who fall while serving their country... im sure its something soldiers are constantly aware of... i wonder whether they question the validity of their death as they lie there losing blood or whatever...

gah.
im stopping.
very well constructed piece.

Reviewed by John Leko

...seriously stated...well written...truth be said.

Thanks
John