M.B. HENRY 
Poetry Break: “Let Me Tell You How I Died” – Antietam: The Bloodiest Day
Hi Everybody! Can you believe November is upon us already? It’s been quite a year with the writing journey, and I can’t believe I’ll be wrapping up 2022 very soon. But 2023 is already shaping up to be an interesting one, as I just put my second manuscript on submission! How exciting! Cross your fingers for me! While we all wait for news on that front, I thought you could enjoy the latest installment in my war poem epic – this one covering the Civil War’s gruesome battle of Antietam. A terrible fight that would prove to be the deadliest day in the entire war. It’s hard to believe I’ll soon be wrapping up this giant poem, with only a few more segments to go! I sincerely hope you have enjoyed it so far, and I can’t wait to share the rest and more with you!
Antietam – The Bloodiest Day
It’s a burning hot September Day
And in this jagged cornfield, I’ve lost my way
The place is bursting with enemy shell
It’ll be one of the worst, and it’s hell
The corn cuts my skin like blades as I run
If I can’t find my line, I will be done
But the corn is so tall, I just can’t see
And I trip over the bodies that are sprawled around me
A shell goes off close and knocks me to the ground
I’m buried under soil and corn by the pound
I claw my way up, I have to get free
I can’t let the shell with my name find me
I’ve got a life back home, a wife and kids
I can’t leave them here, not like this
But I find that’s not up to me to decide
I learn it too soon, and oh, how I cried
Another shell crashes into the bloody corn
My screams reach a fever pitch, my ligaments torn
My world goes black, I’m thrown to the ground
I died fast and easy, but I was never found
To Be Continued….
Photos by M.B. Henry. For more from the Civil War, click here and here.
And for some lovely fall colors pics – click here.
Very evocative poem. Well done,MB.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Powerful, heartbreaking poem, MB. The first-person perspective is VERY effective. And the best of luck with your second submission!
Thanks very much – I need all the luck I can have!
Anxiously awaiting the next installment.
Thanks Lee! I’ll be sharing it sooooon!
https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/veteran_holding_up_us_flag_lg_clr.gif
Excellent wordsmithery M.B and good luck with your 2nd manuscript!
Thanks very much! 🙂
I was there too MB, great poem. Hope your next book will get through the next stage without too much extra work 🙂
Yes, me too!! 🙂 Thanks so much for reading!
The imagery and tone are spot on. Best wishes for your next manuscript! I posted a review for the first on Amazon and my FB page. Wonderful read – bravo!
Posting reviews is the absolute best thing anyone can do to help me, that and buying the book! So thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Intense poem! And most butterflies get battered wings by September and October.
Oh that’s very interesting to know! I took this picture at a butterfly house when I still lived in LA, but I can’t remember what time of year it was.
MB,…I’m your biggest fan. This had me in tears. I’m so proud of you. And I’m reading this on Veteran’s Day. I have your book and am so excited about the next one! I love you! Karla ❤️🤍💙
I think about you often and always send you hugs when I do! Love, M.B. <3 <3
Thank you so much! ❤️💛🤗
Thank you so much, MB! 💛❤️💚
Looking forward to the “To Be Continued…. “
Thank you! And how the heck are you?! 🙂
I have been good. I spent the last part of the Covid isolation chasing a computer language down a rabbit hole. I never learned classic “C”, so I taught myself that and then went onto “C++”. The geeks will know what I am talking about. 🙂 🙂
Ha! I’m afraid I’m in the dark on the C++! 🙂
Simply, sensitively, evocative
Thanks so much Derrick! <3
Fingers crossed!
Thank you!!
Heartbreaking imagery, MB. You have such a gift for verse and word.
Thank you so much! <3
WOW! Sobering. Wonderfully written!
Thanks so much for reading! 🙂 🙂
These poems are always so sad….
They were truly sad times – hopefully one day we will learn to not repeat! Thanks as always for reading
the reality of “glory.” Evocative. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
All these pieces are heartbreaking, but this one seems even more so.
Best wishes for your second manuscript!
Thank you! Fingers crossed! 🙂
Wow! That is incredible.
Thank you <3
Excellent peom! Thanks MB.
I just finished your book; it was incredible! I am not trying to suck up or get on your good side. The book was simply amazing. I really loved how you told the story of D Day through the lives of these characters. Honestly, this was so well done. History is a “dry” subject for a lot of people, but the way that you put the story into the lives of these characters brought everything to life. Please put me on the list for your next one.
The way that you made the main characters all female was awesome. Too many history stories only focus on the men. The perspective you used through these women was just wonderful. Boy, have you set the bar high. 👍👍
I can’t tell you how much this comment made my day. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about the book – it makes me so happy how much you enjoyed it! Hopefully I will have news about the next book very soon, please cross your fingers for me! 🙂 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful holiday and happy new year.