“Another
View”
cji
7/5/19
Just over
the hill
lays a
valley
a great
tragedy
war always
leaves
while once
just one
now
memories
of many
mixed
maybe today
a good day
to share!
Copyright ©
2019 – cji
“POW’s
Andersonville and the Civil War”
“It was a
tear . . .
fully
developed
that would
not now
or again
caress my
wife of
child’s
cheek or
person
for this
teardrop
froze in
place
never to
fall
for
freedoms price
was my cost
in this
hell forgotten
place,
called
by name
by name
forgotten
as my tear . . .”
C.J.
Ingerson
8/25/98
“Over by .
. .
the side
where
shadows
fell did we
seek
to cover
ourselves
from his
eyes
for just
one moment
to be free
from his sight
to be free
one moment
then to
return
to his eyes
rejuvenated
given the
strength
to endure
till one
more time
to seek the
shadows
free from
our guards
the enemies
eyes . . .”
“We ran
away . . .
not in an
act of cowardice
but in one
of hope
for freedom
was found
beyond the
physical being
so we ran,
we crawled,
we
groveled,
into the
deep shadows
the inner
recesses
of our
minds
of our
beings
to sit once
again
on mothers
lap,
to the
sunshine of youth,
we ran away
from these
shackles and chains . . .”
“He wasn’t
much . . .
maybe 18, I
don’t know
we just met
up
stayed
together
sometimes
we’d talk
he never
spoke of home
so I told
him of mine
he’d been
around
from the
places he spoke of
places I’d
never seen
no he
wasn’t much
but we
buried him today
he’d had a
wound
we didn’t
know
I put his
name
on a scrap
tied to his
toe,
he wasn’t
much
just my
friend . . .”
C.J.
Ingerson
8/25/98
“You know .
. .
I don’t
know
what is
that makes war
or why men
can’t agree
or why
there is so much horror.
I don’t
know why
we can’t
get along.
I was a
farmer
Johnny Reb
told me he
was a farmer
so why are
we killing
each other?
It wasn’t
funny
but it was
the two of
us sitting their
he with his
gun
me with
mine
just
waiting
to see who
came by.
His people
came first
so I’m in
prison
and last I
heard
he was up
near
Fredericksburg.
He writes
when he can
not very
well
says he
doesn’t know
who is
better off
him or me.
Well I sure
wish
I was him
and him me
Fredericksburg
is a whole
lot
closer to
home.
But I’ve
learned
that war is
hell
and prison
is
the lowest
level
and the
horror
of cannons
and bullets
is nothing
to the
horror
of the
screams
of your
brothers
and that
there
is nothing
you can do
is nothing
you can do
is nothing
you can
is nothing
you
is nothing
is . . .”
C.J.
Ingerson
9/3/98
“Little
flower”
How in the
world
did you get
in here
what did
you do so wrong
as to be
condemned with us?
Oh I know
you can’t hear me
or even
know I’m here
but you
won’t last long
as a little
flower here.
But since
you’re here
I’ll care
for you just in case
the one who
brought you here
will take
some time to care for me.
C.J.
Ingerson
9/3/98
“Wandering
. . .
my mind
seeks escape
were none
is found
this isn’t
what I’d thought
when first
the call came
excitement,
adventure
going after
the Yanks
going to go
and come
right back
be a hero
have the
locals
flock
around
to hear my
stories
of war and
killing
and winning
and
whatever
other lies
could be told.
But now my
mind
only wants
to escape
from this
hell
called
Elmira
called
Delaware
called
infamy
forgotten
by all.
Wandering
my mind
remembers
only
childhood dreams
fishing in
the creek
hunting
coon’s at night
the
foolishness
of knights
of heroes
on big
white horses . . .”
C.J.
Ingerson
9/3/98
“Please
remember me . . .”
This is how
I start my prayers
each night
and each morning
for where
I’m now
is surely
not a place
where God
would dwell.
Surely this
place is hidden
far from
anyone’s eyes
far from
where humans live
and I’m
afraid
I’ll be
forgotten and lost.
Please
remember me . . .
I’m your
son
you sent me
here
to grow and
learn
to come
home again.
Remember
how we laughed
and played
when I was young
surely I
had more time
to get to
know you better
and for you
to know me.
So please
Lord
remember me
in this
forsaken place
called
Andersonville
where you
would never dwell. . .
C.J.
Ingerson
9/3/98
Copyright ©
2019 – cji
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