A Toy Soldier

[JoelJosol]

A Toy Soldier

 

No wise man ever said whether pools rush in, the way

flash-floods would in streets, in a tug-of-war with the van’s wheels.

Nor would you leave your baby on the car floor to taste

the water-tainted carpet, stains marked on it.

 

I frequently saw a green soldier-toy, only an inch tall.

He kept this fighting stance as if he were at war.

His green rifle though raised up and erect never did ward me off.

But his stiffness increased my desire for him .

 

It’s not for sale. Wars normally commence after this.

If I had the power of Moses over water, I would hurl the flash flood

against the window, break it up, then pull back and drag

as if with claws his toy soldier, and drop it on my carpet.

[tonyv]

I sense an erotic undercurrent in the symbol of the toy soldier, especially from of your choice of words in the second and third stanzas. Excellent use of italics for emphasis.

 

Tony

[JoelJosol]

Thank you, Tony. You read right. The toy soldier is a symbol for anything we crave for.

[Larsen M. Callirhoe]

hi joel, i commented on this poem already and don't remember exactly what i said exactly. i don't know what happened to the post. anyway i feel like the toy soldier and the world is jerking my chains, in the post that disappeared i said the toy soldier is a symbol of reality. the other remarks aren't coming to mind right now.

 

larsen

[JoelJosol]

That is true, Larsen.