Viet Nam

He dreams day dreams of horror.
He could be anywhere,
But in his mind he’s instantly
Back inside that village there.
He hears those jungle sounds
Again and again and again,
Just one of that platoon of
Tired and frightened men.

He smells again that smell;
Napalm that kisses and clings,
Turning living feeling bodies
Into writhing screaming things.
He senses again the movement
At the very edge of his sight
That sends his reflex fire out
Into the dawn’s breaking light.

He sees once again the shock
And pain on that child’s face
And then his mind in horror
Drags him back from that place,
And he awaits his next visit
With anguish and despair.
He can’t run from daydreams
Trapped in his invalid’s chair
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Gauthier Avatar
October 16, 2022 at 6:14 PM
Wow ~ great poem but what a fabulous closing line ! Adding to my FAVE's (minor suggestion: daydreams written as one word in line 1)
Ireland Avatar
October 17, 2022 at 1:18 AM
Hi . Many thanks. I used day dream to reflect that they were recollections of horror rather than the usually pleasant ones associated with daydreams. Best wishes - Terry
Cholt Avatar
September 3, 2022 at 11:21 AM
This is a very profound and thought provoking poem. Do the scars of war ever really heal or do they just lie dormant for awhile?
Ireland Avatar
September 4, 2022 at 5:05 AM
Have spent the last 10 years as a volunteer working with Ex forces members and their families. PTSD can take upto 10 years to show itself and it seems it can be understood but never controlled or got rid of. Many thanks for your comment
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