Your Shinin'

'Hey J-Dog..!' alpha squad's boss, a real character, 
pointed an exaggerated finger at my chest..
Asked him 'yeah, what?' 
'Your shinin'...' - Looked down to see, 
a bright red envelope pokin' out my breast pocket. 

Goin' on Big Eye patrol, NOTHING better shine,
makes for an easy target for snipers,
gives away your position to enemies unseen, 
pulled the pocket flap over and snapped it shut.

'Meet me at Starbucks it's starting to rain'
my new love said to me..,
jumped into the truck and leaned in for a kiss..
put her hand on my thigh, with that telltale smile, 
both knowin' it was gonna be a good night..

Back at her place grabbed both cheeks from behind,
biting her earlobe, a crazy she understands best.. 
'did you tell him yet?' - she fell in her seat with a bounce, 
'I tried to, they're still out on a mission..,
so I sent him a letter'.
  
Three weeks up and down steep hills, humpin' an M-60..
felt like a year in Helmand province..  thought about her,
try to wipe it from my mind., gotta stay focused..
or you go out in a casualty bag.   

Rollin' on the bed covers feelin' every inch of me singin'
two passion smoked eyes calling 'come to me now', 
pulled off our cloth barriers to strike up a new conversation..
hands movin' on me and in her, loins lightin' on fire.  

Bullets rained down all over alpha squad's flanks.. 
heard someone yell 'Jay get to cover!' 
Saw his face in her lover..
as the rocket exploded,
sad look of terror, his mouth shaped in her name.  

Just before the end.., he thought of her letter,
maddening words spelled out in g'bye,
yet still prayin' 'stay safe'..
stingin' still in the flyin' dirt and rock. 

Feelin' that far away explosion all her own, 
in that last moment of clarity..
thinkin', yeah..
there are things in this life, 
far worse than dyin'..
your shinin'..

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021



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Date: 9/28/2021 7:15:00 AM
A moving story Richard... that she had felt that far away explosion.. all alone..thinking about it... was far worse than dying from the explosion itself... So skillfully penned... God bless... ~ Ani
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Date: 9/27/2021 6:07:00 AM
Well written Richard. A powerful, creative poem. :)
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Date: 9/27/2021 3:08:00 AM
Hello...I got it, loud, clear and beautifully penned! Creative as all get out. I felt I was her,_ her. This was like being in a movie ))) hopes for a POTD...a Fav! Very contemporary! This is not a dry poem, meaning words on a page with no passion behind it, this was Rivers of passion..wow... really poetry, Panagiota
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Date: 9/26/2021 10:53:00 AM
You are amazing with poetry, Richard. This is a little bit complex for me but I got the drift!!! Stellar.
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Date: 9/25/2021 10:10:00 AM
Very interesting that you say there are worse things in life than just dying, you are so skilled with adding complexity and nuance in your prose~
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Date: 9/25/2021 6:41:00 AM
Quite a dramatic verse Richard, well written. Hope you are keeping well. Tom
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Date: 9/25/2021 4:08:00 AM
Outstanding, writing, my dearest friend, Richard! Impressive! Blessings.
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