Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Poems from the Democratic Republic Of Congo By Lt Col (Rtd) Don Too Heng Onn
Thursday, December 22, 2005
.......written poems that are left in the file, and not enjoyed by others are not the reason the poems were written in the first place - know what I mean? Also, these three poems that I am sending you, will give some very good idea to the person reading it, about the conditions here in the DRC - and hopefully will make them realize how lucky we are back in Malaysia, and so, be thankful.
Right : A painting of a Tamarind Tree
Two of these, 'Don't Cry For Me Old Man Congo' and 'The Weeping Lady of Kinshasa' were my heartfelt response after seeing the suffering of the majority of the common Congolese people all around me, wherever I travel - and I travel widely here in the DRC. One cannot imagine how bad the general conditions are in the DRC, unless you have seen it first hand.
The other poem, 'The Tamarind Tree', is about this majestic tree located in a camp occupied by UN troops (Bangladeshi Mech Coy) which is just on the shores of Lake Albert (one of the lakes supplying water to the White Nile.) I visit this camp once every three months and in every visit, I feel drawn to this tree. It is in the centre of the camp (behind it is Lake Albert. )
So you can imagine, every morning, as the sun slowly rises, the tree, beautifully silhouetted against the rising sun - it gives me such immense peace and tranquility, I've grown very fond of it; but I fear for its safety - the Congolese are notorious for chopping down trees for firewood. So when the UN finally departs - how long more will this tree continue to stand? I like this tree as it inspires me - standing proud amidst so much danger and uncertainties in this land wrecked by wars and tribal clashes - thus the poem. The above was an extract of an e-mail written by Lt Col (Rtd) Don Too Heng Onn, below are his poems :
