Gershon Wolf Poet Imagism

Viet Nam, 1966

steamy jungle
  dense undergrowth
viny overgrowth
  thickets abound --
monkeys chatter
  foretelling doom
snakes hissing
  eerie sirens --
bamboo sticks
  in the ground
spiked with poison
  puncture unsure feet...
all to protect
  an unseen enemy
raining bullets down 
  from nowhere    

~ Viet Nam, 1966 ~

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Sandra Adams December 24, 2019 at 6:07 AM Wow powerful write Gershon ... that ending lingers as war would in the mid If those that have been in that position Wonderful penning :) hugs Happy Hanukkah to you my friend Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:32 PM Thank you so much for the spirited comment, Sandy! Merry Xmas to you and yours! Peace, Gershon

Constance La France December 23, 2019 at 4:24 PM Gershon, wow what an awful image you have painted and it seems to me that it is realisic, well done.. check your soupmail Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:26 PM Thanks for the encouragement, D.H. :) gw

Kim Rodrigues December 22, 2019 at 6:07 PM I’ve heard the bullets fall like rain. All the imagery of war and doom! My inspiration came from watching Gettysburg. I paused the video just as a soldier fell off a cliff. Too many ways to die in war. Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:26 PM whoa! Gettysburg was a hell on land, wasn't it?! I thnk 40,000 fell in just two or three days... War is hell, for sure. Peace, Gershon

Tom Cunningham December 22, 2019 at 1:58 PM Quite stark imagey Gershon, bullets from nowhere, Charlie coming out of his tunnel firing and disappearing again. I still think China and Russia were heavily involved in that war. Tom Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:24 PM Oh, you're absolutely correct about USSR's support for the VC. No doubt about it. Thanks, Tom. :) Gershon

Caren Krutsinger December 22, 2019 at 10:46 AM You were either there, or your muse was there, or you have spoken to those who were there. WOW! Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:23 PM Very prescient, Caren. Thanks for the support! :) gw

Bobby May December 22, 2019 at 8:13 AM Well done my friend and do I have monkey story, lol Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:22 PM Thank you, Brother Bobby. Happy Happiness! :) gw

Evelyn Judy Buehler December 21, 2019 at 11:19 PM Gershon, your poem paints a vivid picture of what Vietnam was like in 1966, even for those who were not there. Well done! Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:19 PM Thanks, Evelyn. I've been reading Colin Powell's autobiography, "My American Journey,' which triggered this poem. Powell spent 7 agonizing months in Nam... Thank you for your encouragement and Season's Best! ~ Gershon

Na Na December 21, 2019 at 10:47 PM Nice 1 Gershon. I wasnt there but I know many that was. Thanks for sharing Gershon Wolf December 24, 2019 at 3:16 PM Thanks for the support, Greg! Season's best, Gershon