God told me my soul mate in Paradise
Fr. Jesus (Jess) Labor
Filipino is he
Supported him when he’s here
Was crazy on internet
Fell for the military man, Austin
Childhood friends researched Gen. Austin S. Miller
Scammer he is
Asked God for a family
Skeptical because different
Met this great man
Said has a daughter
Thought to be impossible
Nothing is impossible to God
Charlie told me that for fun
He watches a terrorized mouse
Get chased down and eaten by his corn snake
Jake, the Snake, every Thursday at two.
I met Charlie the first day of school
My third year in the district.
His twelve foot friend Jake was being wrestled in by....
Five giant guys who were carrying a glass container
Large enough for a couple of elephants and a wrestling mat.
Jake was inside, red and yellow striped, fat as my wrist.
Charlie was the nicest teacher, and he loved science.
Loved his children, but the snake thing bothered me.
He let his sixth graders watch the hunt every Thursday.
I knew when it happened because they would all yell
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” in unison on Thursday
I asked him once if they were given a grade for watching this.
He laughed and said he had never thought of that.
But he was certainly glad that I had.
One prissy boy named Sam never watched.
I rescue Sam on Thursdays at five minutes before two,
pretending he has a giant counseling issue.
Dreading the first Thursday I am sick.
Glad that Charlie was military, as the hunt is always at two.
industrial and
banker...politician and
military man
they are all the same...
when running the world for us
it's profit for them
why not people from...
say...the arts sciences as
our freedom leaders
My father is not the biological father of my siblings
So I am the bridge, I am the link in the family
I, alone, carry his blood, so it is
all the more poignant, and painful that
I am the daughter who disappoints
I am the daughter who didn't join the Navy
who didn't graduate from college
who didn't marry a military man
who didn't give him a grandson
I am the literature-loving daughter of the man
who can not abide books, the man
with no patience for poetry or art or music (excepting Johnny Cash)
I am the (usually) alcohol-abstaining daughter of the man
who can not seem to show affection without the buzz of beer in him
I live in the land of rain
He has retired to sunnier plains
Still we share the same face
And, for thirty four years, the same last name
I see in me his stubborness
the same silent avoidance of problems and pain
the same wanderlust
the same silly habit of leaving keys in the door
Of hating to wait in airport lounges, in doctor's offices
the same scribbly handwriting
the same distaste for celery and peppers
For better or worse
I am not me
Without him.
7/15/18
Being a retired military man
Who served four years in Vietnam
I never saw anyone charge a machine gun nest
With only a 45 or 9 mm pistol at best
School boards better get some smarts
Or start passing out Purple Hearts
Pistols are a 30 to 40 foot range gun
Standing up to an AK-47 or AR-15 won't be fun
When bullets start flying by their head
Fear will take over and they will be dead
Give them a grenade, mortar, or law rocket
But you can’t hide them in your pocket
Teachers are smart and know they’re out gunned
The only chance they have is to run
Maybe arm the teachers with AR-15s
Then see what the body count is in-between
You don’t need more bullets flying around
That leaves more students dead on the ground
If you want to listen to the President or NRA
I pray that it’s not your child that has to pay
3/13/2018
Collaboration with Sonny Roper a retired U.S. Navy military veteran
Dad saluted his great granddaughter Maia on skype
That was memorable for me
Dad was a military man
A Brigadier General
They saluted him and not the other way around.
But to his 5 year old granddaughter
He wheeled himself in front of the computer
And saluted her.
What a wonderful moment!
I'll never ever forget that moment.
It is beyond your power to perceive what I mean by believe. I stand tall every single pointing out day to make you stay. I don’t have much power to drive you insane like a language of mad lovers. But I have an aptitude to stay bold like a mine worker. Too strong to fight for you like my country as a military man. Believe that our bond will forever exist in street of paradise. We spoke about it. You and I together for ever.
You told me to let it rain in me. You became part of me now we are one. Believe is true love will never outlook us. I was not a man enough now I am. Yes life betrayed me now is my time to. Each punch of your looks bring me joy and everlasting perseverance. Your traditional thought bright my life. You the reason for my own existence, dear God I do not need mistress.
Yes
My heart is weak, my soul is deep with words I can speak
But, would you listen, understand or even believe
So I prefer to show you in actions, take you through a journey of my thoughts
So when words are spoken then walls are broken
and you believe in my love
Because my heart is weak, my soul is deep with words I can speak
Do you believe
Teddy Roosevelt wanted the world to meet
the might of the United States with the “Great White Fleet”.
This naval fleet of ships sailed around the world.
They voyaged to where so many different flags were unfurled.
This country became a world power, and was not about to sit on the shelf.
Mr. Roosevelt took pride in this project. He was a military man himself.
Back in 1907 was when this historic episode took place.
Since then, this nation has progressed at a steady pace.
Robert Pettit
Motif: historical
New Poem: March 18, 2014
Have you ever known someone so brave?
That for you and me they risk their lives
Knowing they could end up in the grave
Because they are fighting for our Country
With a willing heart to save
And please never forget all the other sacrifices they have gave
And please remember when you see our flags colors
The red, white, and blue
That we were given this chance for freedom
Because of what our military men and woman
Risking their lives for me and you
So please when you have the chance
Tell them Thank you, Thank you,
For all you do
Oh- have you ever known someone
That you look up to that is a hero in your eyes
Some one better than any comic book superman
For me that will always be my military man
He has shown me what it means to be brave
And just give all you can give even
When knowing there is a chance
that you can end up in the grave
Because you’re willing to save
Oh- These men and woman who fight
For our country are just so brave
With a heart of gold they have gave
So please when you have the chance
Tell them Thank you, Thank you,
For all you do
He took her hand to help her understand he was her man
He showed her love and helped her with the wedding plans
She was lucky but sad because he was a military man
Always going here and there
But he left her signs showing that he cares like
In his words
In his actions
In his plans and
Like when he took her hand he touched her heart
From the first day they met it was easy and not hard
For him to get her heart beating as she would
Lose her breath each and every time she would take a step closer to him
And she would give in to that smile
As she felt like a little child
Like when he would
Whisper softly to her such beautiful “I love you’s”
And she would say shyly I do to…..
Loving a man in the military
it's such an honor to hold
at times its quite scary
the fear for the brave and the bold
It's heat breaking being so far away
its tragic not waking up to you everyday
missing the warmth of your smile
how it once brightened this dark room
The lonely feelings of exile
once in awhile we all consume
even though it can be rough
i'll smile through my tears
for my man is tough
with him i have no fears
this man is my hero
stationed so far away
risking his life
so we can wake in peace everyday
so i sincerely thank you
for everything you do
and where ever your at tonight
just know that i love you
My son is coming home today
he's been away so long
when he left here to go away
We knew that he was strong
He told us he was leaving soon
his girlfriend had to cry
the bus took him away at noon
and we just said goodbye
a military man so fine
so able and so tall
he's put into the firing line
not holding back at all
He sent a letter home one day
I don't remember when
his mother told me just last may
she got one more again
We got a letter monday last
from one who knew the score
My son was caught up in a blast
and he could serve no more
The plane came in, they set the chocks
they brought him in a bag
and now they've put him in a box
I get to keep the flag
Suddenly my life is changing
Things are a mess I'm rearranging
Packing boxes clearing walls
All because his duty calls
The more I pack the more I cry
It's almost time to say goodbye
He's 18 now getting out on his own
I've done my job my son is grown
Not college bound he's headed where life is wavy
Now a military man he's in the Navy
I'm sure he'll call maybe even write
I miss him every day and night
I remember when he was so small
Now he's over 6 feet tall
He is no longer my little guy
He's done packing I have to say goodbye
Loaded his car and out the door
Nothing left in his room but bare walls and floor
As go through memories I found his first sippy cup
He won't need it now he's all grown up.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.