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Poem

I used to sleep and dream
Bright colors....and images,
As a young man...
A new soldier....
I would sleep just so
I could dream....
Missing noon meals.... 
In the Mess Hall.....
Hungry not for food....
 
The sun would fill my room
With light....
That I covered with a pillow
Until the afternoons shadow
Filled my room.
 
Exhausted....
Excited....
I would bath
And shave and venture out
Of my barracks room...
At night.
 
I was seventeen.....
And I knew where
The hole in the fench...
In the Motor Pool was...
 
I remember the smells
Of beer and girls dancing
All night in clubs...
After hours....
No MP's in sight....
It was my own private adventure
Deep into the night.
 
Yes, I was handsome....
Though I did not see it...
I was too involved with
What I was seeing to
Know who I was at the time....
Just a young man
On an adventure.....
Of his own making....
Not knowing the power
Of my youth....
 
On Saturday parade grounds
I stood...and heard
Of Valor in Battle....
And Enemies fought....
I knew these men with
Ribbons hard won.
Not a one had a smile...
 
I felt in my heart
That I too had to go...
And test myself...
Not for medals or awards...
But I did like their shine...

But to see why these
Young men....
Heros of mine...
Slept until noon....
Not feeling hunger....
 
Twenty three months
Later...
Drowned in combat nightmares....
I finally understood...
 
To sleep is so precious
To dream is so wonderful....
But it is the price....
I pay every night...
For having gone to war....
 
At eighteen...
On my own request....
I received my orders...
To go to Vietnam....
 
I don't regret my own
Request....
I too stood tall
On another soldier's
Saturday parade field...
Not smiling....

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