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This poem is a powerful, politically charged piece that uses stark, visceral imagery to protest the human cost of war. The title, "Forgotten," encapsulates the central theme: the lives and suffering of civilians are overlooked in the machinery of conflict. The poem is characterized by its fragmented structure, a deliberate choice that mirrors the chaotic and broken reality it describes.
Detailed Review
The poem's central theme is a bitter condemnation of war, focusing on the disconnect between the "military industrial complex" and the "collateral damage" it creates. It argues that the supposed "righteousness" of war is a cover for greed, and that this greed blinds nations to the suffering of innocent people.
Stanza 1: The Silence and the Barrage
The first lines, "Surrender / To the sweet silence," create an immediate and jarring contrast. The "sweet silence" is not a peaceful quiet, but the hollow stillness that follows a violent attack. This silence is what is left "After the pummeling / Of Rockets." The use of the word "pummeling" is highly effective, as it evokes a sense of relentless, brutal force. The term "Rockets" is both specific and general, pointing to modern warfare without being tied to a single conflict.
The poem then introduces the term "self / Defense," which is broken across two lines. This line break is a deliberate choice, forcing the reader to pause and question the very concept. The following lines immediately undermine this justification, framing the rockets' barrage as a form of attack, not protection, that leads to "collateral damage in / Physical form."
Stanza 2: The Military Industrial Complex and Greed
The poem's focus shifts from the physical effects of war to the economic and moral corruption that fuels it. The "Military industrial complex / That churns a nation" is a direct reference to a well-known critique of the war economy. The word "churns" suggests a machine-like process, indifferent to human life, grinding out profit and conflict.
The "righteous stuff their / Pockets" is a direct and cynical accusation. This image of financial gain during a time of violence contrasts sharply with the "collateral damage." The poem suggests that this greed is a deliberate choice that leads to moral decay: "hearts and minds / Shrinking / while blind eyes / And turned backs align / With prosperity / greed." The fragmentation of these lines reinforces the sense of moral disintegration. The "blind eyes" and "turned backs" are a powerful metaphor for wilful ignorance—the choice not to see the suffering in pursuit of money.
Stanza 3: The Human Cost
The final section of the poem returns to the immediate human experience of war. The poem shifts from a high-level critique of geopolitics to a raw description of fear. "Screams / Fill the night," a simple but gut-wrenching line, makes the violence personal and immediate. The sound of a "whistle," perhaps from a falling bomb or a command, further heightens the sense of terror.
The final lines, "to Crouch and hide / Or run, to / where?" perfectly capture the feeling of helplessness and desperation. There is no safe place; every option is a desperate gamble. The broken line "to / where?" leaves the question hanging in the air, a final, unanswerable expression of futility and despair. The title, "Forgotten," becomes all the more poignant in light of these lines—the people running are not just at risk of being physically harmed, they are also at risk of being forgotten by the world that profits from their terror...sindbad


My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .