Home » Poems » CayCay Jennings » Vietnam Victim

Vietnam Victim

Dedicated to my Father, (R)Colonel US Army, 1931-1998, with endless love Leaving for a year for nightmare and fear he came to say goodbye or at least to try. I did not speak, didn’t open my eyes, an unknown fear had me paralyzed. My Father full-blown, a force in uniform, is memory that haunts - a fulfillment I still want. My pretend sleep, him standing above. we should have spoken, held and shown love. I only, barely, peaked at my Daddy’s face. This regret won’t leave, I mourn that lost embrace. Did he know, did he realize, his nine-year-old was alert behind closed eyes? He had always known when I was in possum mode. We should have hugged, shown each other our love. Did Dad live with regret over what I cannot forget?

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

Crystol Woods

Date: 5/20/2025 11:56:00 AM

Such a poignant and sad poem... you have laid open your heart so vulnerable. The relationship between father and daughter is shown in such raw emotion. Thank you for sharing such a heartbreakingly beautiful poem. Xo

David Crandall

Date: 5/19/2025 8:18:00 PM

powerful and personal

Oliver Mckeithan

Date: 5/19/2025 6:32:00 PM

CayCay, congrats on your placement in my contest. You wrote from an excellent perspective of a child watching her father go off to war. Your feelings are well said here.

CayCay Jennings
Date: 5/20/2025 1:15:00 AM

That is a night that for me has never ended, over and over, I rewrite it. How blessed I am that he came back, for endless reasons, but also because that night would never have known the take and give of future love that eased the regret it held. Thank you, Oliver, for sponsoring, it means a lot to many ... CayCay

Sandra Adams

Date: 9/3/2019 9:02:00 AM

powerful, poignant and equally emotionally sad...whatever his reasoning i am sure he just wanted one last glimpse, sounds as his decision had already came with regrets... the hugs may have come if he knew you were awake.... touching write... hugs

Susan Ashley

Date: 11/14/2017 4:35:00 PM

Oh so sad CayCay that your father had to leave you at such a tender age and under those horrible circumstances. Your recollection of this moment in your life and the fear you felt is brilliantly illuminated in your strong and captivating write... and I was glad to read that your Dad came home 365 days later.. Warm wishes and hugs! (soup mail for you :)

Freddie Robinson Jr.

Date: 12/27/2016 12:33:00 PM

A gripping and yet tender poem, CayCay. The human cost of war is so much more than the dead victims, it's the living victims as well. You expressed this very well in this touching poem. Love the way you superimposed another point-of-view in this poem. Very creative poetry. Love always.

Carole Duet

Date: 10/21/2016 4:16:00 AM

What a great and tender poem! A fav for sure, CayCay. And, congratulations. Carole

Sandra Haight

Date: 10/18/2016 7:05:00 PM

So sad, deep and powerful, CayCay...my eyes welled up with emotion. Congratulations on your placement in the contest. Hugs, Sandra

Janis Medders Tobechi

Date: 10/18/2016 12:51:00 PM

I see this was your last time. Very sad and very moving. I pray that one day you will feel that embrace somehow if you don't already. Well written. A 7 congrats on your placement. I am partial to Nam poems. My generation.

Viv Wigley

Date: 10/18/2016 12:13:00 AM

Deep, dark, sorrowful. Congrats on your heartfelt write, CayCay. Viv x

Afzal Nusker

Date: 10/17/2016 10:46:00 PM

Very touching and sad. Congrats on your win, Caycay.

Lu Loo

Date: 10/17/2016 3:07:00 PM

ohhh CayCay, how devastating...very sad but wonderfully written dear lady :) congrats on your placement :)-luloo

Lenny Gazbowski

Date: 5/16/2016 7:40:00 PM

A tragic but well written poem. I am sorry for your loss CayCay. My dad was called up for WW2 on his 18th birthday, he never spoke of his experiences. I know why. Only the bankers and arms dealers profit from war.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 10/11/2015 8:07:00 PM

CayCay, I have my notifications turned off so I don't know the marvelous messages you are leaving me like this one I just read down here. so very sorry your dad was called by agent orange. thanks for the "gift" message. that was so sweet. I love your poems too. I will see if there is one more way down here at the bottom I have not seen and then I will get to dinner.

Neil Kruger

Date: 10/10/2015 8:21:00 AM

This is so sad and deep. I'm sorry for your loss. War is an ugly thing.

CayCay Jennings
Date: 10/12/2015 7:25:00 AM

Thank you, Neil, for your kind and tender care of my loss and poem ... CayCay

Arthur Vaso

Date: 9/27/2015 7:37:00 PM

Hello CayCay, this is the first poem I have read of you, and oh how touching this is. You have captured the sadness, and I sure would like to think he did know! If he read this, how proud he would be!

CayCay Jennings
Date: 9/28/2015 6:21:00 PM

Your words warm me. Since Daddy is now gone, I wrapped up inside your pride comment for awhile. I'm delighted to see an older post read, I know I sometimes read others in reverse order so nothing good slips through. Thank you, Arthur - very much ... CayCay

James Inman

Date: 9/3/2015 3:04:00 PM

CayCay, heartfelt lovely poem. Very well written.

CayCay Jennings
Date: 9/3/2015 6:18:00 PM

James, thank you for taking time for me and sharing such uplifting words ... CayCay

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/18/2015 4:09:00 PM

How sad this is. Did he come back to you from that horrible war? Sure would like to know. I get the sense that he didn't. Very good one! Powerful verse for what you intend to show us. thanks for your nice comments on my poem. Do I feel under the gun? Yes, I do. hahaha. I will not be always at the top. That is inevitable! but it keeps me trying!!

CayCay Jennings
Date: 8/21/2015 10:04:00 PM

365 days later my Daddy did come home. It was 30 seemingly healthy-years later that Vietnam killed him; he died from Agent Orange. Thanks for reading me, please come around again sometime. My commits were for most of your poems that I read. I plan to read more - so little time. I meant what I said - you have the gift.

Edlynn Nau

Date: 8/18/2015 1:48:00 PM

He probably knew but was saving you from the pain of saying goodbye! This shows the great hurt in regret! A daughter who can never get another hug. So painful to me. You might want to look at my poem called, "Dead at Home on Veterans Day. " I will post it late tonight (after those get done with their 10 at a time). So if your a morning lark, look tomorrow or go to my page. All of us continue to be the victims of the Vietnam war. Long after it is over...we live with the repercussions.

Edlynn Nau
Date: 8/22/2015 12:16:00 AM

Well I'd text you if I knew how! Ha! AnyWho, "Dead At Home..." IS POSTED when you find that time. I promised I get it on the Wall tonight. Accomplished. It's a Ballad.

CayCay Jennings
Date: 8/21/2015 10:24:00 PM

Thank you for commenting and I must say, I think you're right that he knew I was awake because my Dad always knew when I was playing possum. Please see my abobe comment to Andrea about my Daddy. I didn't find "Dead at Home on Veterans Day", but I filled your inbox with other comments.

Pam Deremer

Date: 8/16/2015 10:26:00 PM

Very nice. I really enjoyed reading your poem.