Written During An Airplane Attack by Daniel Hutner

January 30, 2019
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Written During An Airplane Attack by Daniel Hutner American Volunteer Killed In Action –September, 1937

The Volunteer for Liberty, V. 1, No. 15, September 20, 1937

 

Old Volunteer Logo

Dawn still sleeps; but we awake,

Aware that soon those shadows in

The sky may hover.

 

Everywhere about us the earth is raw,

With wounds from shells and bombs, and holes

Dug by men.

 

Blood has flowed here, has wet this earth

On which we lie; and blood will flow again –

But our thoughts are not of this.

 

We oil our guns, adjust our clothes,

Dig deep the earth –prepare to hide in it,

To hug it close.

 

And then those shadows come! We seize upon the earth

We have prepared –become part of it –

Become earth…

 

Not a finger moves; expectantly we wait –

Some fearfully –for a sign: are they theirs,

Or ours? Marked with red or black?

 

Then suddenly the roar! Earth again is torn,

Into a million parts leaps high; and shrapnel spreads

And mingles with the smoke.

 

More! And more! Closer! More deadly:

Intenser –bombs –cries of pain from mules and men,

All covered by earth and dust…

 

Then silence… The beasts have gone…

We tear ourselves from the earth,

Become men again.

 

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