Now I will try to 'amputate' myself from the going's on of this past week or two to comment on this because I will never let any difference I have with the poet get in the way of acknowledging a good poem and yes, this is good! It's very raw throughout and keeps the reader on edge.. something that I feel a sonnet can never achieve.

The opening line made it a reality for me and you followed through to keep me interested.

EDIT

This is a poem I would sincerely like to see on the front page...

Also, please do not thank me here...I never check :)

This is quite different from what I’m used to seeing from you , Ben. You’re clearly as capable with freer verse as you are with the restrictions of sonnet writing. The word choice in this is very matter-of-fact, unflowery, bordering sometimes on spoken word, but I think this is very necessary!
‘Amputated’ from reality is a really apt image – clever verb use. I’m not usually a fan of adverbs unless they serve a purpose. ‘Lethargically’ was great, I imagined one of those scenes from a war film when the sound becomes muffled, and there is that sound of tinnitus over the screaming and commotion.
The lack of full stops at the end of the stanzas…purposeful? I think it works. The second paragraph is my favourite. It paints a grim picture before the poem begins to develop a voice mid-way through. The language changes, it begins to become more like I’m hearing someone speak rather than hear someone describe a scene. The third paragraph reminds me of Brian Turner’s poetry, which is a compliment.
The only issues I have with this are towards the end, firstly ‘and my eyes are certainly dull’. It’s kind of a…’meh’ image? I also find ‘certainly’ a little superfluous. Maybe a better adjective than dull? It would remove the need for ‘certainly’. I can’t imagine anyone saying it. I lose the voice.
I also felt like towards the end you could’ve described the water rather than tell the reader it’s like sludge. I’d prefer to feel it? I get why you wrote it like that, I just think it limps a little towards the end compared to the sheer strength of the opening stanzas. Overall, it’s a very accomplished poem, and deserving of the front page, as Hellon said.

quietly now, quietly....

That’s how I feel when reading the poem...
That’s what I am telling myself....

quietly now, Luce, quietly now write a comment

shhhh...

but the poem hits me

Boom!

I’m blown to pieces.

Wow Ben, this is powerful! Your imagery was stunningly graphic. Well done Sir...

I'm " blown away " by your poem Ben!!

So graphic and REAL.

Love it. It's EXCELLENT.

you make my Jaw drop!

A Haunting, macabre tapestry that captures vividly the horrors of war. Not a huge fan of non rhyming or war poetry I find your imagery and emotion pulling content to be spot on and worryingly compelling because the visuals are scarily accurate. A great write. Milly x

I saw it coming. I saw it coming and I just couldn’t run away from it. Really, your poem was the bomb. It hit me.

Well deserve win. Congratulations.

wow

not a rhyme in sight, no hint of a sonnet polluting this wonderful free verse.

I enjoyed reading this Ben.
congrats on the win.

You had my attention from start to finish. Your poems always have a way of catching my full attention. Congrats!

Wow!