Ace Poems Nick Armbrister with Shy Lhen Esposo

Ace Poems

Nick Armbrister with Shy Lhen Esposo

A poetry collaboration like the story this project is based upon: a Luftwaffe pilot who barely survived crash landing his crippled Messerschmitt Bf-109E. He meets a Jewish lady living in Occupied France. Against orders, the 19 year old pilot, Otto, falls in love with the 31 year old woman, Shy. They dare to be happy together.

Read the pilot's accounts of nasty air combat over Russia and Germany. Learn of his injuries and downfalls. Till his relationship costs him everything. Then he must fight his own Nazi countrymen and stand up to Hitler. His fate is already sealed, as is Shy's. Otto is ordered to lead a final mission. There will be no happy ending.

Shy's journey in love, war and hope is described by Filipina poet Shy Lhen Esposo. There is drama, emotions and reality in her work.

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Ace: Forced Down

'I don't want to burn...'

Otto flew onwards.

It was a joyous flight.

Then trouble hit again.

His other worst fear.

Engine failure!

Must land.

Where wherewhere?

Altitude has gone.

Trees are so close.

Wrong place to crash!

Touching close.

Want to close my eyes.

But I must to see my end.

Drop the flaps to glide longer.

There!

A field.

Thank God!

I can make that.

Keep the nose down.

Don't want to stall.

I can do this!

Dead stick landing.

I was trained for this.

Here we go!

Bump!

Bump and slide.

Damn that's rough.

My warplane is sliding.

Come on now, stop!

Oh crap!

A ditch, right across the...

Mama save me again!

I don't want to die.

Mutti!

Otto came too and shook his head.

His vision was blurred and pained him.

A sweet smell wafted towards him.

The drip of petrol was audible.

He panicked and dug at the brown earth.

It was mixed with broken Perspex, above him.

Undoing his straps, Otto tried to escape.

The broken canopy trapped him.

Drip dripdrip went the gas.

Then... just out of his vision.

A boy, aged about eleven.

Help! Help me! Hurry. Please!

The boy ran over.

Looked at the inverted plane.

And saw the trapped pilot.

Did he know that Otto was the enemy?

And had killed his father?

Otto flung off his flying goggles.

They made eye contact.

Help me! Hurry now.

The boy found a steel bar.

With the intelligence of the young,

he levered against the wing.

It leant against the ditch edge.

Moved with a sickening jolt.

There was a gap.

It was enough.

Otto dug at the earth and cut his hand.

Bending double, he crawled out.

Drunkenly standing, he looked at his plane.

He shook his head and felt his broken bloody nose.

Then fell to his knees and vomited.

Fractured ribs knifed him.

Otto passed out.

When he looked up, the boy was gone.

Without him, I'd be dead...

Ace Poems by Shy Lhen Esposo

Otto ended up in part of Russia

before his engine fuel ran out,

landed safely

and securely.

Only when he got out of his plane,

was he surrounded by Soviets

and became a Russian prisoner.

'Mutti! I need your help!'

Otto whispered

to the gentle flow

of the blowing wind.

Otto became a Russian prisoner for three months,

but one day woke up with the news

that he would be released by a Russian lady.

'Thank you Ms?for saving my life from your people.

I didn't hurt any of your people.

My fighter had to land and I'm lost.

I ran out of fuel!

That's my mistake!'

The Russian lady gave

Otto a sweet smile and

winked at him.

They went to the farm where Lyka Roda lived.

'This is my place,

please feel free to ask what you want to know about

me and why I choose you among the prisoners.

By the way,

I'm Lyka Roda, only daughter

of the Russian commissioner!

I have a brother but he's nowhere.

He lives in far away land...

Lyka was sad about her brother

for he's half Russian half and German blood.

'I'm Otto, a pilot on duty in war against Hitler's enemies!

Defender of my fellow men and countries

who are affected of this bloody hell, war!

What is the reason why you came

to choose me from the prisoners?

Because I believe one day you'll be my defender

and that you have a good heart.'

'My father will never say 'no' to whatever

I ask from him!

The day they caught you in the field,

I was with them.

I am my father's right hand and I

saved his life from the many bandits.'

LykaRoda explained to Otto

about herself, proposals and purposes.

Otto was happy for a couple of months

before he left Russia and Lyka Roda.

A promise had to be kept and he left behind

a question that couldn't be answered...

Lyka Roda fell in love with Otto and

he left behind sweet memories.

Shy Lhen Esposo

https://www.scribd.com/book/306222247/Ace-Poems