the Regiment that Served his Mother’s Country
– (By David Hurt)
The Great War has ended,
many return home
lost and disowned.
Yet some fight on,
like the Spaniard.
The only Spaniard
to fight for his Regiment,
the Regiment that served
his mother’s country.
Frayed and severed limbs,
crushed bones,
blooded face,
burns and deep lacerations
that scare for life
could not brake him.
Shellshock,
the loss of friends
and family,
Could not brake him.
These are his words:
Aceptarme por lo que soy;
Yo soy de carne y hueso,
Yo soy hombre,
un ser humano.
Mis heridas y cicatrices,
Ellos son una imposición de la guerra,
que no son lo que me hacen,
no son mis emociones,
mis sentimientos,
mis creencias.
Soy un ser humano,
Yo soy hombre,
Yo soy de carne y hueso,
Aceptarme por lo que soy...
Accept me for who I am;
I am flesh and blood,
I am a man,
a human.
My wounds and scars,
They are an imposition of war,
they are not what make me,
are not my emotions,
my feelings,
my beliefs.
I am a human being,
I am a man,
I am flesh and blood,
Accept me for who I am...