These poems were written by  two students as part of an assignment to respond creatively to a We Are Not Your Soldiers visit to NYC high school with a largely recent immigrant population in Spring 2017.

Never Will I Ever Forget

Never will I ever forget
Those dark clouds above my head.
Those ashes on the ground,
Making my head spin around.
Never will I, never will I.

Never will I ever forget
Those children’s eyes filled with tears,
While parents’ hearts filled with fear.
Not being able to know,
If their loved ones will show.
Never will I, never will I.

Never will I ever forget
The collapsing of buildings,
As well as the destruction of homes.
People jumping out
Without having a doubt.
Never will I, never will I.

Never will I ever forget
Stepping into a war zone,
Never knowing if I’ll return home.
Starting to believe I was a king,
But in reality, not knowing a thing.
Never will I, never will I.

Never will I ever forget
Memories of those training events.
Those sounds of “Kill, kill haaji!” rings in my ears.
How can something so respectful be disrespectful?
Never will I, never will I.

Never will I ever forget
Attacking innocent civilians.
God knows, probably killing a million.
Fired bullets on the ground,
As more bullets made a sound.
Never will I, never will I.

Never will I ever forget
The urge to go home.
I know I might be alone,
But I must flee because I know
War is destruction and peace is the key.
Never will I, never will I.

Hellships of War

Blood on my shoulders,
Hate in my heart,
I should be blaming you from the start.

While our brothers are dying,
You’re sitting there lying.
We forget the corruption
That left us crying.

You tell us we’re fighting for this country,
But we’re really fighting for the money.
We are just hungry,
Wanting control over everybody.

I want to see my family,
But I’m shooting someone nastily.
Maybe he has a family
Praying for him to get home safely.

United States,
Do you hear my silent cries?
Or do you set me to the side?
For each breath you take,
For each word you speak,

We go
Foot to foot, boot to boot,
Blade to blade, button to button.
I’m still feeling the pain of death.

The way we see our enemy
Is like they have a death penalty.
“Kill, kill, hajji!”
The only thing I know to fulfill.

My love,
I hope I see you soon
For me and you to watch the full moon.
Thinking of you with this bullet wound.
My blood dripping to the ground.

I died for this country,
Which was a little funky
Because they just gave my family some money,
Which still left them hungry.

I am not your soldier.
I am not your soldier.
I am a man of honor.
I am a man of honor.