London F. Buss Poet Free verse

State Of Grace

State of Grace  

	An Army nurse hoses blood off the floor.
	while the doughnut dollies smile and flirt 
        with the wounded boys
	down the hall.
	Back home they scream baby killers, Spit in our  
        faces with sadistic joy.
	White sheets cover the dead soldiers, just boys, being wheeled
        out one after another, out the door, too late.
	Body bags await, and body parts stacked up by the door.
	She held his cold hand, as he lay dying, in fear… calling
	calling for his momma, 
	Nurses in tears can’t take any more, but they wheel in 
        another dying boy through the door.
	Screams of pain, dulled by heavy monsoon rain 
	pounding on too thin canvas walls.
	Unforgiven... in a State of Grace one boy after another dies
	time and time again, she must hose their blood off the floor.
	Padre telegram in trembling hand, knocks on the… it’s
	The door is open?
	Memories of rows flag draped lead lined coffins 
	as he steps through the door.
	And sees the boy’s young wife, naked, with a stranger.
	on the… looks away, can’t watch this anymore...
	who the  are you?
	Your husbands been wounded, 
	but he is doing well, he lies...... Well…. Wel..l
	Well, he has lost both of his arms and legs,
	she said, So, he’s not dead? , , , 
        no NO GOD DAMNED insurance payout, 
	no no no?
	He turns and leaves the boys wife
        still naked wife in a State of Grace, with a  
        stranger on the…..
	Padre in tears walks out the door …. 
        Shaking hands, he, recounts
	the telegrams, undelivered, yet again, quickly,
        there’s still six more.
	Fate, like Charlottes topaz eyed… tiger still lurking in shadows
	As an Army nurse in a State of Grace, 
	hoses the blood off the floor, and stacks
        the body bags by the door...

         (c) London F. BuSS

     
         11,000 nurses served in Vietnam, were volunteers. Many still suffer from PTSD.. GrocPedia (Elon Musks) wikipedia did an interesting review of this poem. I should say that im not a
 pacifycist, i was a soldier, and i would rather die a patriot than a coward...

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rhaya artlyy September 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM I've really been enjoying your story your characters and storytelling are fantastic. Honestly, I think it would work incredibly well as a manga or webtoon and could help you reach an even bigger audience. I'm a commission-based manga/webtoon artist, and I'd love to help bring your story to life if you're ever interested. Feel free to reach out at gm@il: [email protected] inst@ akiraa_artly

Joseph P. DiMino December 30, 2025 at 10:38 AM You bring it, the horrors of war, to life for those who have never been there. The horrors of war, reaching far beyond the battlefield, to the soul of a humanity in spiritual conflict. Will we ever change, learn to say no more?! Brutally honest write. Well done.