Sun Kissed Days

Sun Kissed Days

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Battles



Soldiers in the window,
colorful, untouched,
works of art.
I think of you,
when you were a boy
and history was your world,
a part of you,
like your pulse.
A part of your passion,
your grandpa surviving the holocaust,
fueled your desire to learn
the pieces of the puzzle.
The motives,
the moves,
like the game of chess you both played,
respectful opponents.
His arms like wings,
sheltering you ,
yet his words hard with truth,
your mind vast
and hungry.
Now a man,
you heal people.
Still famished for truth.
You see the price of war,
my boy no longer dreams of battles
he has grown to dream of peace.

50 comments:

  1. Oh, wow, that end is pretty amazing, Ayala. Sounds like you have an amazing son.

    ReplyDelete
  2. smiles. i used to paint those little miniatures...as a fam friend taught me about the battles he fought in...love the fam history you weaved in here as well...i am glad his (and my) thoughts turned to peace...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a powerful expression of watching a boy become a man...full of all that's influenced him with a character built to make his own choices. Poignant.

    ReplyDelete
  4. so good to grow into a man of piece..sounds like you're having a wonderful son ayala

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ah, dreaming of peace. That's a good thing to hope for. "Famished for truth" I love that line.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ayala...this might be my favorite so far. Soooooo beautiful. I just received an email from an old and dear friend, her Dad, a Survivor is sick in the hospital. Breaks my heart.

    But your poem also made me think of my brother, a nurse and paramedic...how he too was always playing with those little toy soldiers and listening to stories of the war from my uncle who was in the infantry, a Jewish boy in the midst of it all...and how my brother grew up to help patch up children caught in inner-city crossfire at the ER in Philadelphia.

    anyway...a beautiful read. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. powerful and well worth the visit hither!

    Nice post for yesterday as well, friend




    Aloha from Honolulu :)

    Comfort Spiral

    ><}}(°>


    ><}}(°>

    <°)}}><

    ReplyDelete
  8. Builds to such a powerful ending. Uplifting.

    ReplyDelete
  9. best to grow into a man of peace... lovely poem!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful and touching piece. The last tercet is end it perfectly. ~ Rose

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh...this got to me. My son is in the Navy somewhere out there.

    The ending....zing...straight to my heart.

    Lovely.

    Lady Nyo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such a touching poem, Ayala. Because I lost my father to war (never knew him) I have a strong feeling for these young men and women and their families. And I dream of peace. Your son is in my prayers...you, too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. a son to be proud Ayala ~ how you can look back and see the journey made from boy to man ~ moulding a heart of peace ~ Lovely ~ and as a parent can't ask for anything more ~ Lib ~ @Libithina

    ReplyDelete
  14. you are so adept at telling stories with your poetry - and this is a good one.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh that is so lovely! Having two little boys of my own, this made me wonder what they will grow to be some day when they are too big to play with army men. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful and moving, ayala, written with wisdom and heart.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great story-telling through poetry, and I really enjoyed the ending.

    ReplyDelete
  18. So touching. Reminds me of a piece I wrote a few months ago:
    http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2011/03/24/american-boy/

    ReplyDelete
  19. I hear the love for your son and I am happy that his choice is peace, as I'm sure you are. Lovely poem.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I also used to play with all the army men and such, made some too. When your young you don't really realize what it's all about, until you grow up and know peace is the only way.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the lines, and those last two -- perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  22. And the world just elevated a touch... lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  23. "You see the price of war,
    my boy no longer dreams of battles
    he has grown to dream of peace."

    Love this stanza and the overall arc of this poem. Well done tribute Ayala.

    ReplyDelete
  24. A fabulous write... to share in the eagerness to learn, the details hungered for and finally the realization of ..."You see the price of war,
    my boy no longer dreams of battles
    he has grown to dream of peace."

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nice to see them grow up and ready for the world

    ReplyDelete
  26. A wonderful piece, what more could you wish for your son? You must be very proud of him, it shines through your work...

    ReplyDelete
  27. You know boys....

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh.. that was very moving, Ayala... I guess it's only when you begin to see the effects on yourself that you realize the REALITY of war.. and feel the need for peace.. *sigh*
    An excellent poem!

    ReplyDelete
  29. so strange and beautiful how the mundane things we see around us, like a window display in a store, can inspire the most profound thoughts. this really tells a wonderful little story. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Indeed the price of war is too high...he has grown to dream of peace. Wonderful write!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Beautiful, Ayala. Those last few lines are exquisite.

    You raised him well. Be proud.

    ReplyDelete
  32. The understated use of metaphor in the narrative contributes to the poem's solemnity. An obviously heart-felt and honest piece.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have loved everything I have ever read here, ayala. I love this, too.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ayala,
    woven together to complete such a beautiful tapestry of your family, coming full circle. I feel your love for your son. Such a fabulous write and the most wonderful ending.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love this poem, Ayala. There is always much to be learned from family. You've illustrated that with much love. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Beautiful ode to your son (I assume), Ayala.

    ReplyDelete
  37. A beautiful tribute to your son's life, as well as his grandfather and much honor due to you for raising such a good son. Much happiness to you. Your poem is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is a beautiful poem, the last lines are incredible; you share a compelling story in a lovely way.

    ReplyDelete
  39. one of the best poems i have read in recent times ...

    ReplyDelete
  40. the dream which has to be... poignant and truesome!

    ReplyDelete
  41. oh i like this! great story!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love the message here, and the legacy passed on.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Rally solid, emotive, aesthetically splendid piece of poetry. One of my favourites of yours Ayala I think.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love this, since I see my own evolution in the journey of a battlefield gamer turned dreamer. Excellent! :D

    ReplyDelete
  45. I never got around to reading your work last Wednesday - so lovely to drop by your blog today.

    This is a beautiful piece...when our children grow up and understands the price and cost of war, they become peaceful men.

    ReplyDelete
  46. A beautiful conclusion and a beautiful dream.

    ReplyDelete