Go! New York Herald Tribune! Yell it, Jean!
I think that Marcel Proust once owned that condo.
Belmondo never acts – he’s just Belmondo.
You’re no Liz Taylor – no Egyptian queen –
So, New York Herald Tribune! Your big scene!
Were you too young to play the chick in “Hondo”?
This is the age of “Cuando, Cuando, Cuando” –
No singer, you? Lee Marvin’s never been!
You didn’t do the cop shows (I know why),
or enter those kung-fu things, like The Dragon:
auditioning is hard. The FBI
observed you as you tried to paint your wagon.
Was Iwo Jima where you chose to die,
or just a place for guys to pin a flag on?
Categories:
jima, allegory,
Form: Sonnet
Salute
Bunker Hill, Yorktown, Lundy’s Lane,
Monterey, Bull Run, Gettysburg, Shiloh,
Antietam, St. Mihiel, Belleau Woods,
D-Day, Saipan, Iwo Jima, The Bulge,
Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill,
Ia Drang, Khe Sanh, Hamburger Hill,
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Famous battles in American history.
Washington, Scott, Grant, Lee, Custer,
Pershing, Patton, Eisenhower, Nimitz,
MacArthur, Westmoreland, Abrams.
Famous leaders in American history.
We are all familiar with these names and places.
But what about the nameless men and women?
The faceless citizens who gave up families, jobs,
education, comfort.
The ones who gave America their blood, bodies,
minds to defend us and set others free.
Their blood has stained countless lands.
Their wounds, physical and mental,
should remind us that freedom is not cheap.
The noncoms, privates, petty officers, junior officers.
The occupants of The Tomb of the Unknown,
the Punch Bowl, the French cemeteries, Arlington,
and countless unknown graves.
The living dead who suffer from grievous wounds
and PTSD.
These are the true heroes.
Categories:
jima, hero,
Form: Free verse
His song swerved
suddenly
missed the curve
and descended
into silence.
Still in Memory
Just a tall skinny kid,
only son from Columbus Ohio
graduated high school
long craggy face
no Cary Grant
just a tall skinny kid
from Columbus Ohio.
Drafted. World War II. Duty served.
Marines. Medic.
didn’t carry a gun.
just a tall skinny kid
from Columbus Ohio.
Survived two battles in the Pacific.
then Iwo Jima:
headed out to the wounded
Killed by a sniper's bullet.
didn’t carry a gun.
just a tall skinny kid...
Knock, knock, at her door.
Telegram for you, Ma’am. --March 1945
Categories:
jima, death, eulogy, kid, memorial,
Form: Free verse
They gave their all, who stormed the beaches
Considering the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge,
Through steaming jungles farthest reaches
The Taliban showing no mercy, like savages.
Our military, that’s how far freedom’s reach is
Gladly giving all, what their country demanded,
They stood for our homeland in the breaches,
Wherever personnel carriers docked or landed.
Battle of the Bulge to Iwo Jima, to Kabul, I say
Our Army and Marines have done their best
Fighting for freedom against tyranny’s sway
Planted our flag at the Rough Rider’s behest.
It means a lot to say “Thanks for your service”
The tagline we use when we pay back in kind
For those men in uniform who gladly serve us
Talking about our country, keep them in mind.
Written August 5, 2022
Categories:
jima, military, patriotic, tribute,
Form: Quatrain
Do not debauch the banner--red, white, and blue,
By waving it above traitorous insurrectionists’ yell.
Old Glory was “so gallantly streaming” in 1812,
It has stood the tests of time tried and true
From Iwo Jima, the Japanese sulfur island hell,
And the Halls of Montezuma, on history’s shelve.
Proudly, she stands for our American democracy
Her illustrious story is one patriots proudly tell
No one dare defame her if they her history delve
Relinquishing tried and true to lurid conspiracy
The flag must wave proudly in 2022.
May 23, 2021
Categories:
jima, america, history, patriotic,
Form: Curtal Sonnet
Writing.com daily dew drop prompt write a food poem
the best meals of my life
has always been what my wife
cooks up for me every night
she is a genius in the kitchen
always making something great
from the simplest ingredients
Because she came down with celiac disease
she could only eat
what she prepared from scratch
and so she was forced
to give up all processed foods
and in the process she became
the greatest cook
in the universe
I wait with baited breath
to taste the great food
that she creates for me
on lunar new years
she threw out her lumbar disk
and we were forced to stay home
just as the corona pandemic
swept across the world
if we had traveled
we would have contracted
the dreaded corona virus
and we were forced
to stay at home
and she took advantage
of staying at home
to try new dishes
every single day
I recall the Korean proverb
saeyeong jima
as her misfortune
turned into fortune
and once again
she saved me life
I am the luckiest man in life
the best fed man of all I know
due to the cooking skills of my wife
Categories:
jima, food, love, magic, marriage,
Form: Free verse
There once was a place called Acirema
A ways from the sands of Ipanema
The birthplace of Squanto
The home of brave Tonto
Backwards. it fought at Iwo Jima
Categories:
jima, history, home, world war
Form: Limerick
Iwo Jima reflection 1
10 December 2015
old shufflin' man aged ninety two
creaks out of bed
slides his feet into old shufflin' shoes
draggin' ass
passin' gas
eyes his aging cat
stretching on the vent
"and this is how my life has went"
"not too bad for an old fart like me"
no one comes or calls
no one wants to hear
about his loves or
his needs or his fears
she died when he was eighty five
they were quite a pair
very much alive
said she'd wait for him
"on the other side"
told him not to hurry
she had nothing but time
an army uniform hangs on the door
heavy with medals
his boots on the floor
"hell yes i'd do it again
i'd go for my family
and country and friends"
"those were my living times"
he said so often before
and now his years are gone
the darkness has settled
the shadows lengthen
too many years alone
the body failed and worn
old shufflin' man
will shuffle no longer
he met his maker at ten past four
Categories:
jima, war,
Form: Free verse
He is just a memory, a long forgotten hero
Someone who gave his all before he died
No one to come home to, no waiting arms
And no woman to walk by his side
He went to the service of his country years ago
When they needed some bodies to go and fight
He gave his all, yes he answered the call
And fought for what he thought was right
Now his memory is forgotten, along with his service
A service to God, country and family
He died on that island called Iwo Jima
And went down like that old history
Just an old forgotten hero like an old forgotten dog
In an old forgotten part of the world
He was buried there with honors back in the forties
As the wind flapped the stars and stripes that swirled
An old forgotten hero that was fighting for freedom
And who lays in the ground still and cold
Waiting for the master to come and raise him up
Then his story will finally be told
Categories:
jima, war,
Form: Free verse
We often hear America the
Beautiful being played
somewhere…
The Bald Eagle is the national
symbol of the United States…
There are many monuments
and memorials that play tribute
to many, Vietnam, World
War II, Korean, Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier, Iwo Jima,
Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt
and so many more…
There is Mount Rushmore,
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln,
Pentagon Memorials…
We also have a National Flower
that one being the Rose!
Memorial Day and every day
remember all those Monuments,
Memorials and there meanings,
never forget all those who
have given there life for
our Country…
By Sandra Lea Hoban
©2010
Categories:
jima, war, , memorial,
Form: Verse
Death
In War
Die the Young
Suribachi
Flag
Categories:
jima, dedication, history, inspirational, loss,
Form: Lanterne
What if I put up a blog, or comment about politics.
What if it grates on your soul, in your craw it sticks.
But you think I’m a pretty nice guy, otherwise OK.
You want to support my blog not look the other way.
For the life of you, you find you just can not do it.
You just can’t raise the words from a bottomless pit.
What kind of person am I to put you through all this?
Surely no friend would plead to such thoughtlessness.
There are places on the net for one who is in need,
of venting the poison which in so many mouths feed.
Take your place in history, record your verbal feat.
May you be recognized and valued by all you greet.
Just leave the soup blogs free from political agenda.
Don’t rankle and debate the many political referenda.
Don’t ire the quiet multitude reading your dilemma.
Lest someone go bonkers with a little Iwo Jima.
No matter which side you are on.
No matter you brag or complain.
Someone is always offended.
Please, lets keep politics off the blogs.
Sept 28 2010 Charles Henderson
Categories:
jima, politicalpolitical,
Form: Rhyme
You were a soldier with pride
Defending a nation
From forces of evil
You fought on the sands
Of a South Pacific land
You fought for an island
Owned by Japan
Our forces were strong
And you fought with great might
The island of Iwo Jima
You would take that night
Though death was around you
You faltered not
You fought with bravery
You knew not how to stop
Victory was yours, your brothers
Your friends
A victory that death will make
You forever live
You helped our nation
Win the war
That one tiny island
Was one Great reward
You gave your life
Or maybe not
Regardless your destiny
You fought a great fight
Sixty years has now
Come and gone
But we are still proud
Of the bravery you have shown
Dedication
To my grandfather, Jack Madison Fluitt, a United States Marine Corp. Raider who fought the
battle of Iwo Jima. You are gone now but we remember your life with much pride and honor.
To all the other soldiers who fought at Iwo Jima or any other battle of World War II,
thank you for our freedom. We owe our lives to you.
©March, 25,2005 Kimberly Fluitt
Categories:
jima, wardeath, death, life, world
Form: I do not know?
You were a soldier with pride
Defending a nation
From forces of evil
You fought on the sands
Of a South Pacific land
You fought for an island
Owned by Japan
Our forces were strong
And you fought with great might
The island of Iwo Jima
You would take that night
Though death was around you
You faltered not
You fought with bravery
You knew not how to stop
Victory was yours, your brothers
Your friends
A victory that death will make
You forever live
You helped our nation
Win the war
That one tiny island
Was one Great reward
You gave your life
Or maybe not
Regardless your destiny
You fought a great fight
Sixty years has now
Come and gone
But we are still proud
Of the bravery you have shown
Categories:
jima, wardeath, death,
Form: I do not know?