Best Nam Poems
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
For asking please forgive us Father
But were you with us here today?
In this place that must be hell.
If it is not, then we cannot tell.
We lost so many good friends here today.
It is so bad that we no longer know the way.
We have seen so much in this past year.
We really need to know that you are here.
We need your love, your guidance and a song.
We fear this place and that our being here is wrong.
So many of us seem lost.
Yet we stay together no matter the cost.
Please Father guide us and show us the way.
So that we can survive another day, and
If we are not to make it home,
Please do not let us die here all alone.
I wrote this many years ago, and thought I would share it now.
There are other things besides the years That make the young grow old I 'v learned that bullets hurt worse than football knees or broken noses Or even slaps from pretty girls I'v learned there's no way home without some kind of private crucifix That just might be for now Another year of solitude.
VIETNAM REMEMBRANCE
By
Robert Welch
March 17, 2016
Reaching far away it stands, gently ‘round the bend.
Names in stone, row on row, that seem to never end;
Reflections of the ones who died; those who gave their all.
Yet, there at last, the final name, the last to die and fall.
We went as boys so very young, our lives yet not fulfilled,
A place that was a living hell, not fit for man or child.
All gave some, and some gave all, in a war that was so cruel.
Yet those of us who did come home were faced with ridicule.
But those who died and gave their all are the truest of the true,
Their names are on a granite wall, for all of us to view.
As we pass by and stop to see, a flag, a book, a name;
Many names, so many names, not one who brought us shame.
Rest in peace, oh faithful one, and wait for us above.
For one day we shall join with you and see the Heavenly dove.
But as we wait for that to come, our tears will fall anew,
In knowing that those left behind will always grieve for you.
When, in our deepest sorrow, and our hearts are heavy laden;
When it seems that all is lost, and everyone is saddened
We come together in His name, to praise and sing a song,
Knowing that the will of God will surely make us strong.
monkey
playful friend
from Viet Nam
sent by loving soldier
60's
Garyae gam hai abas deeda-e-nam se pahle
Be haqeeqat hai musarrat jo ho gam se pahle
Aashna ho gaye is se bhi yehi kya kam hai
Sunte the naam-e-sitam tere karam se pahle
Hum ko ilzaam to dete ho mohabbat ka magar
Tumne mahsus kiya tha ise ham se pahle
(Akhtar Muslimi)
(Machine gun bullets, or is that rain?
Mud spackled riv'lets down the drain.)
Did you ever think that the truth was funny?
Same old joke for any Money.
Burns are red, bruises blue.
Enemies here in their village stew;
And with the same old same old thing to do.
Lotus sutra bliss
Void between two lotuses
Shines within our heart
14-April-2021
We walked and talked for hours as we sat on the golden sands
A fine yellow grain so soft, found on Benbecula's open lands
We are so fortunate on this day no swell from the Atlantic shows
The morning sun into the afternoon warms in smiling loving glow
The salty air attracts our taste, as if to say it's there
In splendid scenery surround we absorb and politely stare
We marvel at the breakers as they land with a soft applause
Taking in this day so calm, knowing nature can change with cause
Our afternoon now wanes as we head back along the coast
Looking forward to the evening ceilidh, and to this Dark Island we will toast
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/scotland-5.php
A pretty girl
Posting a letter
In November
Sending it to young soldier
The wind sent her skirts swirling
Expectations were in the air
No one would ever know
How much this act of kindness would mean
To a soldier in Viet Nam on his last day
We are going to give ourselves
We will not come back
Never completely
© Ben Burton 5/30/2016
"Paw-paw," the young man asked, "how come you never talk about the war
The one Dad told me you fought in, in 1964?"
The gray-haired man replied, through dejection in his eyes
"Some things are better left unsaid, except of those who bled and died
Which war it was should bear no weight, they died fighting for us
My battle scars all lie within, too hurtful to discuss
For many who lost mind and limb were mocked, spit at, and cursed
And made to feel like aliens in this land of their birth
No time before had soldiers fought and come back home to ridicule
Those boys fought just as hard and true as did GIs in World War II
That's why you never hear me speak about those days, my dear grandson
What should have been our glory days were spent in Viet Nam
I might not speak, but I do pray...for every single one"
At the gates of Heaven
I sit and sing Your praise
Where is Maya now?
when the only sound my mind
can hear is Hari Nam
My sari a silk prayer flag
flutters in the tranquil breeze
pastel blue, pink
and yellow hues of Prashanthi
abode of highest peace
Listen manas to the music
timbrel, flute and harmonium
they too sing the glory of God
Still we must be vigilant
our hands continuously harvesting
the bliss of selfless service
our thoughts, words and deeds
a divine mala on which we
incessantly chant Hari Nam
Eternal Companion
old habits die hard
and charming snakes with
golden hoods
rattle in the ghostly shadows
Hold me closer, Ancient Self
tighter still...steal my breath
So...so that I am blue skinned like
You
And when the ways of the world
have passed away
Scatter my ashes...vibhuti stars
all along the Bhakti path
SAT NAM
I am rose in sunlight breathing
Buddha in middle of balm bathing
beckoning my Heart leavening lively
I am a loop in Love cathedral of pure
passion where two beanpoles
dance dare devils deafening
I am wolf wandering in wild weather
finding a fabulous feathered feed
mesmerising messages of marvellous magic
I am darling dove in Dover
watching wedded buy woven wonders
my wings widen their purse-strings wonkily
I am ant anticipating bald-headed eagle
escorting a co-op car to labour ward
fetching mother and new bursting born
I am bardy breeze trying a tango
in coralled coloured church chinks
witnessing choristers sing new comely chords
I am quint quilt on forked farmyard fence
damp dough in toddler tweaks
forte fingers on trebled trumpet tumbling
I am sage steaming vapour soothing stomach
Salomon’s battle stoned and sprung
mirroring his victory on glass floors glimmering
I am tiger in Tibetan temple tempered
monks on my turf as they deserve
stroke my striking countenance smoothly
I am silhouetted stallion in South Sea surf
galloping my gay freedom song
whilst scientists girdle genomes googling
I am witch of weathered spirits
witnessing zigzag zaps down
lithe legs as learnings of latent timelines
I am grandpa goat gambling
another term of gum boot dancing
Lady Nada gifting a hymn for Beatles ballooning
I am Goddess of the Moon
inspiring mortals to seek
Sat Nam Sat Nam Sat Nam !
Saaaaat Naaaaaaammm…
©GhairoDanielsPoetry&Song
2008
There was a war sometime ago where mem were ordered young and old,
to fight the battle keep us safe but for them no escape.
The war went on and the battle raged soldiers dieing everyday,
so many men and boys too side by side fought for me and you.
Viet-Nam what can I say,War of War still killing today.
Agent Orange,Flash Backs too,
many deceases worst than any flu.
One by one they did go for Uncle Sam made it so,
fighting a war they knew not why just to stand shoot and die.
Marching,fighting days on end never knowing if it would end,
or if they would return to the country where they were born.
For the ones who didn't die they were'nt even reconized,
no not one would they meet or even give them an honorary seat.
As for me I have to say they should not have been treated that way.
A Hero's welcome they deserved and crowds of people on every curb,
but instead they fought,died and we didn't as much as say Good-Bye!
Signed;
A Guilty One