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t. reflexion
t. reflexion
Aug 19, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

LONG AND SHORT SLEEVES

LONG  AND SHORT SLEEVES   These amputees you see Along the streets of Freetown Made their choices to stay alive When the rebels asked them To choose long or short sleeves And they cut their hands accordingly The wrist for a long, and elbow for a short So when Mr. Ben encountered them He refused to select any sleeve They tied him up and cut off both his wrists He begged them them to kill him Instead of being a burden to others They put him in the boot of a car And burnt him alive.
— t. reflexion, Aug 19, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: NGA

Favorite Poets: Inspired by an article in an old manuscript , It reads:, AXIOMS OF PERFECTION, In the physical order – In the realization of the dream of beauty, In the moral order – In the realization of the dream of love, In the intellectual order – In the realization of dream of poetry, In the spiritual order – In the realization of the dream of the mystics

More from this author

Critiques

SG

Samuel Johnnie Green

17 years 9 months ago

Different

Hi. To be honest, I had another perspective regarding the title. I originally thought that it was going to be dribble about randomness, seeing another poet from my area writing about the same thing. Sorry for my ignorance. Regarding the poem, very innovate and fresh to take a serious topic such as rebellion and write it within this angle. Very different and nice to see. Possibly the most interesting line: He begged them them to kill him Why would anybody want them to kill him? Very eye-opening. Decent to good poem.
t. reflexion

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Thanks

Actually, the line with 'them them' is a slip. The second them should not be there, this was an oversight. I will remove it subsequently. Thank you for the reading and the comment. Cheers.
t. reflexion

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Thank you

Please don't beg for the turtle neck but the necks of those who committed this crime, some of them are living amongst sane people today in Sierra Leone. Cheers.
A

Arrow

17 years 9 months ago

What is remarkable about this poem

and what makes it extremely disturbing is the matter-of-fact tone. At the beginning, I get the feeling of being on a guided tour, "These amputees you see . . ." (waves hand as though showing off a historic building). When the horrible becomes routine, that is true horror. It was a good choice to refrain from histrionics. One change: "He begged them them to kill him" That's one too many "them."
t. reflexion

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Thank you

Thanks, I did not see the repetition of the word 'them'. You know, sometime, it is not what one writes on the screen that you read, but the one in your head. Thank you for the comments and the observation. Best wishes.
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

17 years 9 months ago

wow

Hard to say anything when my mouth is hangin' open, and my jaw's on the floor. I don't know what inspired this, but this is awesome...chilling...and I love it. ~Jess ---------------------------------------------------- "Just 'cause you have one, doesn't mean you need to be one....."
t. reflexion

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Jess

Actually, amputees are common sights in Sierra Leone due to the atrocities of rebel war and Mr. Ben lost his live in this circumstance, that is a fact. Thank you for the reading and the comments. Best wishes.
Linda Moses

Linda Moses

17 years 9 months ago

T

I hardly know how to comment. This is stuff that you don't even usually see on the news. Maybe in a violent Hollywood movie. excuse my ignorance, but do you have freedom of speech, or religion where you live? Would you be in danger if officals read your poetry? We are so blessed here in America, and do not even consider anyother way of life could be possible. I have been keeping up with your poems, I have not been commenting, as I said, because I just don't know what to say.
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

I have seen the stories

and the pictures. It always amazes me at the atrocities man can inflict upon others. I am afraid I have no sympathy for these people. They are not human beings, they are not animals, they are beasts of Satan and I am afraid, I become somewhat unhuman when I think of them. It makes me feel they should be rounded up and given the exact same choices. Very telling write sir and very factual from the stories I have read and the pictures I have seen. Respectfully Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
t. reflexion

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Yes Linda

Yes Linda, I have freedom to say these things now because my country Nigeria is free, at least in the sense of being law abiding. It would have been dangerous some years ago when I lived and worked in Liberia and Sierra Leone, then the bullets were flying. There is peace now in these countries. The rebel warlord in Sierra Leone, Foday Sankoh died detention and in Liberia, the rebel warlord who became President Charles Taylor, is now standing trial in hague. Concerning religion, our country is now exporting different brands of christianity. Islam is also strong especially in the north and part of the west. We are free here. Thank you for being a friend and for being there. Best wishes.
E

easylife_2

17 years 9 months ago

very touching

I am also much informed about these things,in fact I have written a couple too about this subject and I should be posting the soon.Very good write.