Page 132 - JSOM Fall 2019

”The Gun & the Scythe“ and ”The First Marauder“

The Passions of an Army Ranger

Reviews by Allison Esposito, Managing Editor

uke Ryan is an American author of poetry and fiction. He military, Ryan went through a nomadic period during which
is the son of aid workers and spent his childhood overseas, he lived all over the country. From San Francisco to Tampa to
Lliving in Pakistan for 9 years and Thailand for 5 years. New York, he traveled the United States many times, develop-
After his return to the United States and a few years in col- ing a fascination for the American road. He has worked sev-
lege, Luke joined the US Army and became an Army Ranger. eral jobs—journalist, publishing over 500 articles; a freelance
He went on four combat deployments to Afghanistan and left ideographer; and professionally in television. One of his many
the Army as a Ranger team leader. When he got out of the jobs is occasional copyediting for the JSOM.

The Gun & the Scythe

Poetry by an Army Ranger

Ryan L. The Gun & the Scythe: Poetry by an Army Ranger. Independently published (April 17, 2019). Available at
Amazon.com. Paperback: $7.99; Kindle: $3.99. Paperback: 69 pages. Product Dimensions: 5 × 0.2 × 8 inches.
ISBN-10: 1091476454. ISBN-13: 978-1091476455.

IED Ryan’s poetry deals with the worst of life but it teaches us how
A flash, an eruption of red in a sea of black to live. Poet Lidy Wilks said, “Poetry, if we let it and embrace
No sound, not for my ears it, can offer us a way to empathize with one another. In its
Only a flash. immediacy, poetry is a counselor helping us to understand one
Heat passes through me, another. Leading us away from hate to love, from violence to
Like a campfire over and over mercy and pity.” 1
Passing through every inch of my flesh,
Through my brain and my gut. Poetry tells us that we are not alone in our pain.
According to one reader, Ryan “captures the
The flash subsides. ‘shock wave’ of battle that continues to ripple
My legs still carry my body, through a veteran’s life, long after they have
My arms still carry my rifle. come home.”
I can see.
That’s all I need to know. His poems are clear and concise, and he captures
his message with the “right words in the right
Right then, let’s get on with it. place.” He invites the reader to share the horror
There will be time to think later. of war but to feel he is walking along the reader,
Copyright Luke Ryan 2019. with reassurance and understanding.

“Poetry is so important because it helps us un- The volume is small and easy to carry anywhere,
derstand and appreciate the world around us ... Poetry teaches to read and reread and to mark the reader’s thoughts along
us how to live. Poetry ... bares open the ulnerabilities of hu- with Ryan’s. The book was designed by Ryan and is as per-
man beings so we can all relate to each other a little better.” 1 sonal as its contents. Ryan’s philosophy is said best by a line
from his poem “Hills to Take”: “But you can’t climb a hill
Poetry is an art form in which human language is used for its when you’re busy looking back at the last one.”
aesthetic qualities in addition to, or instead of, its notional
and semantic content and is used in a manner that differs from Reference
ordinary prose. 1. Osborn A. Why Is Poetry Important to Our World Today?
Alice Osborn. https://aliceosborn.com/why-is-poetry-important
-to-our-world-today/

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