This is painful and raw and full of something that I can't quite explain. It's sad and I'm sorry that this even has to be written, it hurts to read.

Brutal.

I am stunned by this. So powerful and deep and full of so many emotions that it's hard to pinpoint any single one. Very well written...and much love and peace to you.

This could almost be a sequel to 'Truce'. Either way, it is so powerful that reading it is hard indeed.

All the best and take care,

Ben

I am just.... Speechless

This needs front page and now!! Glad its nominated

This is a hard read, the content really just grabs you up and slaps you hard. Well done-

The only words I can find at the moment are , "I'm sorry," and "wow." Very different reactions for conflicting emotions this bring up for me.

So heartwrenching. I think all those inhuman things make one even more human. Beautifully penned

It captavating Its a harsh reality of
the society we live in .
We are just numbers .
Our SS #
Our I.D/Drivers Lic#
Insurance #ect.
ect..We are the masses !

Congrats on the win!

Congrats on your win! Amazing write!

Congratulations on the contest win :)
Great poem.
PPx

There is a pain and hurt I don't even know HOW to express after reading this... and I believe it was Larry who mentioned you should send a copy of this to all in Congress. War dehumanizes. It's such an obvious statement but when I think about it, what does it mean to be dehumanized? To have your worth be like the count of another body bag. And I'm just seeing war from the safety of my home, the media skewing and twisting numbers while government tries to tell us we're somehow superior. That those across the country aren't our priority, shouldn't be our greatest concern. At least it feels like that. Where is the humanity? This poem calls for that. The soul that's hurt much more than one can imagine.

Stay strong. Sending lots of love and peace as always. Hope many read this and glad it has won as well. I know it must have been painful to write. <3

Congrats on the win! :)

I am being asked in this comment box if I "like this poem". What a stupid question. And no, I don't. I HATE this poem. I hate its truth that leaves me spinning. I hate everything about it.

How do you do this? Thank god that you can do this, though a poet's heart is usually no armour against suffering.

But this is a poem that doesn't ask us to feel sorry for you, it tells us to be sorry for all of us. And I am so, so sorry.

All my love to you.

When I finish this poem, I want to scroll up to begin again. I've read it 10 times already.

So hauntingly true

Judging comment

This poem brings the Syrian conflict to our door step. The senselessness of war is so well illustrated here. To exist amongst this chaos must be unbelievable, and to what end, what is left when the smoke dissipates and only ash is left. All for the greed and power of a few. A very graphic and heart wrenching poem. You are right, in war we are not human or animal we cease to exist, all we can hope for is to endure