A Voice in the Wilderness

By luigi_pagano

Sun, 28 Apr 2019
  • 3278 reads
4 comments
 
Dear Martin I've heard
you practice the law
and are so successful
as to inspire awe.
 
You maybe surprised
to receive this letter
but you'll be apprised
of the facts of the matter.
 
I came to this country
because I believed
it needed defending
but I was deceived.
 
Instead of peace
mayhem ensued;
civilians took flight
to escape the feud.
 
We hoped to achieve
a spiritual resurgence
but the enemy crushed
our fierce insurgence.
 
I've maimed and killed
of my own free will
so I feel that I need
your professional skill.
 
Although I am guilty
of many an attack
now that it's over
I want to come back.
 
I would like your help
to rejoin my own peer
that is why I'm saying
“I wish you were here”.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2019
Certificate PG
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

H.i Luigi,

this kind of reminds me of that old saying, the grass is always greener till you get to the other side and find out it's not.

As always great rhythm and rhyme.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Jenny, a good comparison.

Luigi xx

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Deliberately leaving vague how much the person despised, and still maybe despises, and has worked against the country he/she wants to return to? Did he/she go to defend or to change and try to create a violent 'government', and what are their feelings and objectives now? Saying 'Wish you were here' to advise and defend his/her application I suppose as he/she 'wishes to be back there'. So the lawyer would have to investigate. A very difficult subject. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

That is the conundrum, Rhiannon. This person has acknowledged being guilty of wrong judgement and of having committed killings, though the belief of having being duped is put forward as mitigation of the retribution that is bound to follow.
The precarious situation of this individual seems to be the collapse of the embraced cause. The question that the injured party now faces is: should someone who has willingly participated in a conflict in a foreign country be allowed to return?
One would have to examine the true motivation, admission of remorse (if any) and consider the safety factor of such a decision.
Opinions will vary depending on one's own view of morality and faith.