The sound of a
Huey
the tick of
a clock
Both signal
a warning
what is and
what’s not
The flight from
DaNang
that hour till
dawn
Your life in
the balance
to die or
hang on
And leave for
the bush
face painted
and dark
Second hand
motion
that tells you
to start
As medics
unload
both the wounded
and dead
The rotors
keep spinning
these moments
— of dread
(Dreamsleep: June, 2026)
I witnessed the juxtaposition
and was humbled
to witness such
while running
through the thirsty rain
I listened to Huey Lewis
sing ‘The Power of Love’
and smiled at the irony
and I remembered
my high school teacher repeat:
“Pay attention.
Pay attention.”
Pay attention!
lopsided loose-lipped Louie
wanted to be called Dewey
His mom said don’t be “foo-ey”
People will think Huey, Dewey and Louie
I don’t care said lopsided loose-lipped Louie.
So that’s what we decided to do- eeee
Cooey have you heard the word on the streets 8 hours of absurd beats
Doff hat to old school cool cat rule in the hot seat sat every tune just phat
Over the moon we swoon legends croon only a buffoon lampoon’s the boon
Phew we hiss lost you and didn’t have a scooby doo how to cope without you
Heaven or Evan's sent hell bent to be the main event a magical musical present
Give Chris a kiss knew we’d miss the dope bliss did feed our need for more you
Like the thriller in Manila not a scintilla of filler just another bassline flotilla
No fraud or clanger all banger the concorde of chords roared in our hangar
Mr Morgan on the soundtrack tiller our melody miller our weekend’s pillar
Won’t get too gooey eyes wet a little dewy guys prime time to tell your friends
Can’t go wrong sound the gong funkier than cartoon loon Hong Kong Fuey
Every gambit & skit en song ding dong laced with wit from his Sunday pulpit
Brassy every pundit knows the culprit could only be Huey you’ll like it..stay classy
Memories
First Platoon boards the Huey, sickly smell of sweat and death
elbow to elbow we sit cramped in the narrow compartment
hot, sticky air like a sauna grips us in its wet claws
rotors spin, air rushes through the open doors
but no relief is felt from the hot, breath of the dragon
gnawing fear grips each man as the bird lifts off
taking us to places we don’t want to go
the green canopy is now below us concealing them but not us
we land at the LZ, bullets snapping and popping as we emerge
the encounter is short, bloody, cries of wounded, silence of dead
First Platoon boards the Huey, sickly smell of sweat and death
gnawing fear grips each man as the bird lifts off
are we headed back to the firebase, home, safety from the fire
safety from the fear and death and sweat
Hueys flying the wrong way, new orders issued
on to the next hot LZ more fear death and sweat
Peanut butter, jelly, bread
Tony, Tiger, also Ted
Huey, Dewy, Louie
Triples you recognize
Gold, frankincense, myrrh
His, him, her
Bubbles, Blossom, Buttercup
All my threes are now used up
Always Prepared
Ready
Freddy
The Untamed
Feral
Ferril
What’s in Frankie’s Pockets?
Frankie’s
hankies
Patriotic Guy
Yankee
Frankie
Of the highest Quality
Fraser’s
razors
Small Eater
Grazer
Frazer
The Warlock
Pagan
Fagin
The Brilliant One
Star Glow
Fargo
Something’s About to Happen to Him
Herald
Gerald
Poet
The bard
Gerard
The Mimic
Parrot
Garret
Who Needs Pudding and Pie
Georgie
Porgie
Good Grief!
Lordy,
Gordy!
Best Things in his Garden
Gerrett’s
carrots
The Stoic
Steely
Greeley
What People Always Say to Him
Really,
Greeley?
The Generous One
Sharin’
Garen
Thrill Seeker
Gnarly
Harley
So Angry
Snarly
Harley
Embittered
Soured
Howard
Not Brave at All
Coward
Howard
What’s in Henny’s pocket
Henny’s
Pennies
The Pest
Vermin
Herman
What Herman Gives Each Sunday
Herman’s
sermons
Why Can’t He Just Stay Home?
Roamer
Homer
Better Than Ice Cream
Sherbet
Herbert
Get Him Band-aids
Howie’s
Owies
Nonsensical
Phooey
Huey
Always Amazed
Wowie
Howie
The Overly Sentimental One
Gooey
Huey
yosemite Sam
casper Friendly Ghost
huey Dewy Lou
grouchy Elmer Fudd
fastest road runner
bright bugs bunny
sweet daisy duck
chip and dale
Harvey comics
mickey mouse
underdog
wendy witch
sixties
cartoons
me
Donald brought Huey Dewy and Louie in to bake the pie.
Louie said, “Ouch! I got some of those seedlings in my eye!”
Things will happen, of course, and that’s okay, said Cy.
Who are you anyway? Asked Donald, as if he were a fly.
“He is our friend!” Huey and Dewy chimed in right away.
So Uncle Donald had to teach four to bake a pie that day.
They designed the top and put sugar on the crust.
If you are in town, stopping by for a bite is a must.
Tina, I saw you perform in Oakland, CA,yes, long ago.
But God has chosen to bring you to His eternal home today.
You, Hall and Oates, Huey Lewis and the News were all part of
a magical, music show.
I feel, in heaven the Angels will shout a welcoming hooray!
How beyond grateful, I was to see you sing, dance and play.
My daughter had to stop me from dancing in the aisles.
I just was so moved, I jumped up to dance, all smiles
Your son left this planet in the year 2018~ how you cried!
Not tonight, you can swing on silver stars, side by side.
**********************
In memory of Tina Turner ….1940-2023.
5/24/2023
When her ewe Sally had twins, naming them was easy for Nelly.
They would either be Salt and Pepper or Peanut Butter and Jelly.
Her brother asked, "what about Jack and Jill or Bread and Butter?"
Nelly was irritated, he was bothering them; she ran to tell her mother.
Triplet lambs are rare, it only happens 2.3 percent of the time.
But Sally gave birth three times today, the neighbors all chime.
Huey, Dewey and Louie or Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two.
They were determined to help Nelly name them – red white and blue?
Nelly was excited by the baby lambs three.
She sat with Sally, and petted them, feeling carefree.
A photographer came by and took her photo; she was a beauty.
He suggested the names A, B, and C, as if it were his duty.
The ugly American likes waving the flag.
And dissing what he doesn’t understand.
He’s scared of change and threatened by intelligence,
But says he’s only honoring his clan.
The ugly American can’t think for himself.
He follows the herd spreading rumors and fear.
He’s a self-taught gomer, and a sucker for conmen
Who always tell him what he's eager to hear.
The ugly American is an immature child.
He wants to live in the past as though those days were gold.
He’d have worshiped Father Coughlin, and Kingfish Huey Long.
Now he champions a modern demagogue.
The ugly American doesn’t need to rob banks,
Molest little children or murder his wife.
All he needs to do is keep his head in the sand
To see the consequences of an unenlightened life.
The ugly American never looks in the mirror.
He prides himself on honoring his roots.
If he saw his reflection, he’d be faced with the fact
That he's as useful now as worn-out cowboy boots.
The ugly American likes waving the flag,
And dissing what he doesn't understand.
In the words of the great Huey Freeman, hope is irrational
hope will have you trying to rationalize
between you heart and your head
on whose logic is more rationale
Lights, camera, action now
there's a lot of people out here
losing themselves trying to please someone else
but love is a battlefield right?
and the cost is always high
just don't become a casualty to war
give your all and always remain transparent
but unfortunately that won't guarantee you anything
so here's my advice to you, remain true
yeah it's important to watch what they say
but more importantly watch what they do
never date anyone twice
because it's kinda asinine to relive any emotional anguish
but most importantly my brothers
is that you choose a woman who speaks your love language
Her eyes shooting tracer bullets
Red then red, then red with anger
Her mind a battlefield of wonder
Strategic planing of her wit
Small Huey Choppers flying around
Dive bombing and landing
SWAT teams sent in a covet attempt
Her Husband forgot
To take out the trash
While holding my M-16 in hand with a filled magazine
A canteen with water and camouflage green jeans
We engage the enemy with a M-79 grenade launcher
Regaining our position as VC fire becomes stronger
Nights filled with fear days the same with no end in sight
Dreams become nightmares with thoughts that ignite
Food out of boxes stores becoming only a memory
Weak from walking one boot at a time depleting our energy
Huey choppers with blades spinning landing to pick up the dead
Tears and anger blended together knowing what we face up ahead
Thoughts of home now faint only the death of a brother
Two hundred and three days left my mind is still in wonder
Will I live or die each day this crosses my mind in thought
I am back home writing this poem about a war we all fought
Contest: A Warriors Sonnet
Sponsored by: John Lawless
Date Created: 09/16/2020
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