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Cher Ami and GI Joe

Dedicated to strength and medals worn in heaven. Inspiration from our memories, this is how I remember it. Become the pigeon, fly down and give it a read.

By Caitlin CharltonPublished 6 months ago 2 min read
With the help of Gemini prompted by author

With my heart worn on my sleeve. I didn’t know that days later I would be delivering something to you, like the pigeon with a hole in its chest. Feet clutching a message, one leg severed through its journey.

*

World War I came to them, but it didn’t come to you. Though you mumble everyday much like I do. In October 1918, there was a Meuse - Argonne offensive. 500 American soldiers were trapped, ensnared, entangled behind German lines and were being shelled by friendly fire. Their last hope, elpis, ancient greek, their last prospects was a pigeon named Cher Ami.

*

Cher ami

A wonderful bird

Cher ami

Shot and heard

Two legged seen

The one when it’s gone

No cry is a beak

When the saviour saves a fall

*

Now that we’ve gotten that poem out of the way. Let me take you a couple steps forward to the Brits during world war ll, during the allied invasion of Italy. They were loved, cuddled and cloaked by their very own G.I Joe. The radio became an enemy, no use to the British, no time to function. G.I to the rescue. Released with great permission. A message to call off the air raid. Oh yes it flew 20 miles in 20 minutes. It arrived with plenty of time to waste, saving a 1000 British soldiers in place.

*

Oh GI Joe

Eyes like a squid

Yes GI Joe

Gave me a quid

To deliver the message

While it was as high as a trip

No really it was sober

A GI sober pigeon

*

One day fellow humans, I was standing at the bus stop. Waiting to lift my weary legs, so there’s no confusion. There was no place to sit, so I stood in the sun. Looking up and down as if I was crossing the road. No bus in sight so I waited a bit longer. I saw it coming then, but the pigeon was stronger. It got hit by a bus, fell to the ground but got right back up, and flew off into the sky.

*

It was no GI Joe, no Cher Ami

But it went for the bus

And came to me

In many ways

Like a feather sea

Swept by the wind

Delivered to me

*

God bless America, Cher Ami and GI Joe

God bless the kings knee

And every word in this list I speak

A/N: Hey there, my friends, I am in a good mood today. Maybe because I am writing yet again. The story about the pigeon at the bus stop was true. GI may not have given me a quid, but the pigeon at the bus stop got hit by a bus. It did indeed fly away when it got back up. Days later, I saw a sea of pigeon feathers at another bus stop. So it was only right to follow up in writing.

Free VerseGratitudehumorinspirationalvintageProse

About the Creator

Caitlin Charlton

poetry too close to home

🪄~unique fictional stories 💎 you’ve never known 🪄

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Comments (8)

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  • L.C. Schäfer6 months ago

    They are like little feathered tanks aren't they! I've seen them collide with windows, and just fly off, but a bus is very impressive 😁

  • Calvin London6 months ago

    Aww that was beautiful Caitlin. I love pigeons and the way their heads move in sync with their feet. The faster they walk, the faster their heads go.

  • Sandy Gillman6 months ago

    I wasn’t expecting to feel emotional over pigeons today, but here we are. This reminded me on when my husband and I were travelling across Australia in a van. I was surprised by how many birds would just fly into us, unfortunately, most didn't walk away.

  • I'm so happy that you're in a good mood and that the pigeon is okay. Loved your poem!

  • Shirley Belk6 months ago

    long live the pigeon!

  • Mark Graham6 months ago

    What a work of art with prose and poetry that adds to the creativity of bringing history to the present in such a creative way.

  • I like the structure of this story. Happy to subscribe to your work.

  • Test6 months ago

    While reading this I kept hearing the GI Joe song in my head https://youtu.be/sZSswJ5ovi4?feature=shared

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