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.

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.
About the Creator
Caitlin Charlton
poetry too close to home
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Comments (8)
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 😁
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.
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!
long live the pigeon!
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.
While reading this I kept hearing the GI Joe song in my head https://youtu.be/sZSswJ5ovi4?feature=shared