INNOCENT By Cauis Ramsden-Board New sentry planted, he sits and watches, in silence and in rain he will stay there. Holy cross keeps the sins of war at bay, eyes locked onto last place enemy stood, helmet covers the innocent boy here. Prone, alone, allies have trusted in the mind, The solitary emptiness that feeds. Feeds his home and country, and untouched dirt will soon soak up that red colour of life. Still, he stayed prone, and was watched as he watched. No God looked upon his duality, but instead the black eyes of Death saw him. Teeth and claws and dark fur hid partially Just outside the iron circle of the scope. The sentry knew that Death was seeing him. The home of Death itself was cold and dark, a maze known not by mortal men like him. Yet the boy stayed loyal, if not to God Then to the word superior he knew. Parade lines likened to a line of pews. No harbour for thoughts in that dull prison, Which once knew love and warm embrace so soft. As Death prepared to snuff, the scope stayed still, Upon the point that foe had once shot from. The sentry’s breaths failed to quicken then. Death leaped into the watcher’s line of sight, And saw straight through the young man’s rough attire. His focus broken; a shot rang out that Sliced the sad silence of the No Man’s Land. His heart stopped as Death disappeared from view. His skin was cold, as was the air around The flesh that hung from young yet brittle bone. His sculpted eyes were shut tight as if he Planned not to open them until the end. He blinked and saw no purge of innocence. No enemy met him under the sky, The blackness hiding him from God’s white eyes. Black metal stayed put. Her majestic sight Forcing him to cooperate or die. The rabbit returned back to its burrow.
Image: Keya Desai
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