World of War - Vietnam
WORLD OF WAR - VIETNAM
Again and again I see it, I hear it -
The shudder shudder of the blades
Beating the hot sweaty air,
Swooping low overhead.
The shrill shriek as the engines
Are pierced by sprays of AK bullets.
The endless morass of elephant grass
And swamps with no way out.
Always three little guys just coming from nowhere,
Just coming in tunnels and disappearing;
Never a regiment dug in with concrete -
Elusive is what the commander calls it.
And the bags with tags going home
Containing ‘some’ of our friends -
Maybe an arm or a foot found afterwards
When the mines were all cleared.
And a wife who writes about her decision
To divorce: gut-wrenching morale booster.
The demos on our tvs every night -
Who wants this fight is not very clear -
And my brother on a destroyer in Tonkin
By mistake shot down a US plane;
And our mum asks him about socks and food;
And is afraid when the mailman calls.
When we come back to empty airports
And empty hearts and see the neglect,
The lack of sympathy and respect :
Again and again I see it, I hear it
In nightmares which never leave me -
A swamp with no way out.
…………………………………………………..
Written by Sydney Peck
for Miranda Lambert’s Contest: WORLD OF WAR: VIETNAM
Copyright © Sidney Beck | Year Posted 2011
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