Speak No Ill Of Our Snipers

A friend of mine, who is boots on the ground in Iraq, sent me a poem written by Michael Marks. My friend is in a sensitive area in Iraq, and therefore he can’t reveal too much. So when he sent this poem without any comments, I knew that the poem represents truth as it exists in Iraq at this time.

Marks is said to be, or to have been, a U.S. Marine, but I have not confirmed the fact. The poem has been circulating around the internet usually with the title of “Monsters and the Weak.” Actually monsters and the weak are the last four words of the poem which is titled, “Reporting from the Front.” Marks’ poem was published at the International War Veterans’ Poetry Archive on January 25, 2006.

The poem is copyrighted so I will quote it sparingly. Go to this link for the poem in its entirety.

He never turned his head or took his eye from off the scope,
but pointed through the broken wall and down the rocky slope.
"About eight hundred yards," he said, his whispered words concise,
"beneath the baggy jacket he is wearing a device."

A thunderclap, a tongue of flame, the still abruptly shattered;
while citizens that walked the street were just as quickly scattered.
Till only one remained, a body crumpled on the ground,
The threat to oh so many ended by a single round.

"As bad as all this is though, it could be a whole lot worse,
"He swallowed hard; the words came from his mouth just like a curse.
"Today the fight's on foreign land, on streets that aren't my own,"
"I'm here today 'cause if I fail, the next fight's back at home."

"And maybe just remind the few, if ill of us they speak,
that we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak."

Go to this link for a history of the sniper.

Update: Go to Michelle Malkin’s posting: Support American Snipers.