Poem of the Week

After rereading all of the poems we read in class this week, I surprised even myself to find that "Here, Bullet" by Brian Turner was my favorite. I admit that it has a different vibe than most poems that appeal to me. I normally chose lighthearted, happy poems, but this one was heavier and showed the stark reality of war. I think that's why it had the power to draw me in so fast. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the military, being a "Navy brat" myself, so to hear a soldier's own perspective of war was extremely meaningful.

Turner focused in on just one aspect of war: flying bullets. The way he addressed the bullet, as though it was a person, an evil person, was impressively original. There was no fear in his words, but there was an apparent determination to stand up to the bullet. To fight it. "Here is the adrenaline rush you crave, that inexorable flight, that insane puncture into heat and blood. And I dare you to finish what you've started." In these lines, he seemed to be taunting the bullet, giving it what it was made to crave. The end of the poem can be interpreted in many ways, but to me it seems that the bullet took what it came to get, which is human life. It is sad to end on such a low note as this, but it is the harsh reality of war. Thank you to all of our military for fighting "the bullet" everyday!