Home » Poems » Best » Johnny Martinez » Best Johnny Martinez Poems

Best Poems Written by Johnny Martinez

Below are the all-time best Johnny Martinez poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

Boots On the Ground

Saddle up! Saddle up! It time to go.
     I heard the Sergeant’s call
I held by rifle against my chest,
      And vowed to give my all
It’s time the Sergeant said, move out 
     Let put your boots on the ground
For God, Corps and Country, 
     I took a solemn oath,  I’m duty bound
To the landing zone I gladly went
    Then the day slowly began to wane
I picked up my ammo and weapon, 
    Not a word did I complain
Suddenly, I heard high in the sky
      The gunships thundering roar, 
I watched with great anticipation
     Then felt my pulse begin to soar 
Six Huey Cobra gunships suddenly
     Bursting forth from the sky
It was my ride to to camp Khe Sanh 
     Where many marines live and die 
Towards the besieged compound 
     Without a word we went
Their engine roaring louder, 
     The gunships pilots refusing to relent
When I arrived on the battlefield, 
   I stepped out and pensively planted my feet
I looked around at my surroundings
   The pestilence of war their I meet
From inward fears beyond passion’s pledge
     In their hands they held my fate
And of this mortal enemy
     Their rockets would not abate
Then I heard the sergeant shouting
       I wished the rocket had gone awry
While in this dreary existence
     I turned to God and sought a reason why
I dove into my sand bag bunker, I didn’t’ hesitate
     I felt my heart beat strong in a bunker in Khe Sanh
And when the sun rises heralding a new day 
     I’ll strain all my senses, look and ponder long
I never meant to linger, only thirteen months I’ll stay
     For strong is the life of which I intend to save
As the North Vietnamese Army surrounds us
     Their intent obvious, to put me in a grave

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

The Spanish Galleon

Beneath the silent, cloudless skies
The Spanish Galleon swiftly glides,
For the Spanish Queen Isabella, in distant lands,
Its mighty mast’s unfurled by strong and sturdy hands.

She swiftly sails through  churning tides.
Crashing waves reveal its mighty rage as God decides.
Pay’s no heed to thoughts so grim;  setting of another day.
While through the night mariners taste salty ocean spray.

And sees  a western sky  afire; a momentary pleasure.
In her hulls; heavy chests filled with golden treasure.
The mighty ship tossed about by wildly western winds.
Amid reckless storms, the mariner’s inward strife begins.

Cursing winds summon demons of the mystic sea.
Ah, the sea, the sea, hear this haunting song, now death shall be.
Alas! Alas, the thundering fury; the dudgeon storm loudly roars.
The Galleon heaves and pitches while stoic sailors’ spirits soars.

True to her course the ocean battered this hapless Spanish Galleon.
The Spanish Galleon sunk by the ocean dudgeon.
The ocean’s wrath conspires sending the mariner to a watery grave.
For the mighty ocean imposed her will  and not  a mariner saved

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

The Crippled Boy, Tommy Woodward

The crippled lad stood beneath the bell tower
Pulls the rope to ring the bell at the praying hour.
With each mighty heave the bell does toll.
along the street the congregation did stroll.

As parishioner's entered within,
all greeted with an angelic grin.
Determination written on his angelic face,
the young lad continues at a mighty pace.

In the little White Chapel on Maple Road
this crippled boy’s joy is bestowed.
In this small town of one-hundred and nine,
everyone knew that Tommy  was short of time.

Tommy Woodward born with a bowed back,
The congregation knew that as a fact.
Tommy would not let his handicap be a deterrent,
but hospital visits were a regular recurrence

On a bright and sunny day the bell ceased to ring,
While inside the chapel the choir  sorrowfully sing.
Slowly a solemn procession strolled out the door,
Tommy Woodward will ring the bell no more.

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

A Gift of Freedom

Upon the deadly battlefield
Where honor's won and death is sealed
Brave soldiers stand their ground
Where all that counts, can there be found
Disciplined soldiers, fearless men
Never again to rise and fight again; 
They willingly gave their lives
Tis’ there blood’s megre sacrifice!
From the cries of fallen soldiers, bleedin’
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

Symbol of Freedom

Freedom aint Freedom, said the gravelly Voice
the beauty of Freedom is that it gives you a Choice
the symbol of Freedom lies in Old Glory
Normandy, Okinawa, Vietnam and many like Stories

Freedom is more than appearance
Freedom is more than it Seems,
Freedom allows us to live our Dreams
Freedom is Regal like the graceful wings of a soaring Eagle
Freedom is Real-- something we can Feel.
Freedom is something that can be Seen,
Freedom does not have anything in Between.
Freedom comes with a Price, from those who Sacrificed.
Freedom give us Courage,
Freedom is something that needs to Flourish.
Freedom is not a difficult Task,
Freedom gives us the right to Ask.
Freedom is like a burning Flame,
Freedom is something we should all Entertain

Even if Freedom seems simply Complex
its comes from the Bill of Rights a written Text
and from heroes that died in the Past
without  them how long would Freedom Last

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

The Value of Honor and Gallantry

My sergeant said you've been trained well you know what to do
Your assignment an ambush, do not return until the sky is blue.
We gathered our weapons and lots of ammo
And waited till dark then said he it’s time to go.

We set-up behind a Pagoda in a cemetery
Surrounded by graves, it was kinda scary.   
There in Vietnam overlooking an open field.
I sat and waited; on my lap an M-15 I yield.

In slow degrees though silent, the hours passed;
In the darkness my fear has yet to be surpassed.
It stated to rain obstructing my field of vision
I said a prayer; it was a time of deep contrition

In those clamorous moment before blood and death
I closed my eyes, lifted my head and took a deep breath.
Behind the Pagoda, the hour drew near.
I looked at my buddy's eyes filled with fear.

Before I knew  it his M-60 let loose
There were so many it wasn’t hard to choose.
In all of those moments as the bullets flew,
The fear of death it griped, it grew!

There was nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.
Still we remained instilled with Marine Corps pride.
The exchange of fire ended and my buddy fell dead.
I looked up to God and silently plead. 

I saw the carnage, quivered and trembled in silent rage.
No time for sorrow, for the enemy we'll still engage
I sought the sunshine through bloodstained eyes.
I knew that in war we cannot compromise.

I sniffed the damp soil, decaying and pungent with leafy mold.
At eighteen my buddy laid dead, a life story never to be told.
I soughtGod's mercy to easy my guilt.
Pierced  to its poisonous hilt.

With dark vague eyes I started to cry.
I held his hand and said my last good bye.
I felt deserted I wanting to go home.
For me--farthest from deaths port to roam.

For in this darkness I silently grieve
And sought I comfort to relieve
The worth of that, is that which it contains
Where a bullet-riddled pagoda still remains.

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

D-Day

As the sounds of war loudly  roar
	The thoughts of Freedom began to soar
For on that day of infamy 
	It changed the course of history 	
They didn’t ask to be attacked
	But patriotism became a well know fact
With Peril Harbor still fresh on their minds
	Young and old stood in long enlistment lines
So off to war these soldiers gladly went
	To distant lands where they were sent
In Europe where the German’s raged
	Eisenhower began to set the stage 
Just before the breaking of the dawn 
	The seas were cold and breaking strong
Below the deck of the great Samuel Carroll battleships
	A solemn prayer came from humble soldier’s lips
For On this cold and blistery June D-day
	What unknown adventures, what grievous price to pay
They cleaned their rifles, down below 
	To France’s land where they should go
On this day, upon those treacherous shores
	To battle them who start the wars
They came of every race the mingled swarm
	In proud defiance to withstand a deadly storm
Americas' hero’s shown in pristine glory
	 And to write Freedom's worthy story
For on these shores and lapping waves
	Came the spirits of America’s brave
Some gains were made at heavy human cost
	The price is high, but not, if Freedom’s lost
These soldiers’ knew not if they would survive the day
         Their prayerful thoughts of loved one’s far away
Up and down this cursed blood filled coast;
	Two-thousand lifeless bodies gave the most
They paid the price for freedoms sake 
	 With salt tears, let us not their sacrifice forsake.

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

Their Splendor Gone

Their years have slowly slipped away,
Our nation’s heroes with heads of grey
Once strong bodies, now weathered and weak,
‘tis’ the solitude of grave’s-rest, they seek.

Willingly went to face war’s deadly strife
Preserving liberty, their Country’s way of life
Prosecute not , “Their”  war’s  grievous toll
Grant mercy upon these warrior souls.

Sought they neither honor nor glory
A goodly deed, for them a worthy story
Their splendor gone, they’ve faced their misery
A momentary trembling for threads of Liberty

Honored soldiers who gave their best
One by one, they’re being laid to rest
With ribbons and medal pinned on their chest.
Where upon the battlefield valor well expressed.

Upon their graves a nation owes
The noblest wreath we can bestow
Now they shall rest from life’s demands 
In paradise in God most loving hands

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

The Tattered Uniform

The event was an annual affair,
and all the town would be there
determined that no one shall dissuade,
The old soldier went to the fourth of July parade

He dressed in his old military uniform
frayed, tattered and  worn
on his chest he wore the Bronze and Silver Stars
awarded for heroism in the Vietnam and Korean Wars

The cheering crowd lined the sidewalk
the throng stretching from block to block
He walked with dignity and grace
Pride and Honor etched on his  wrinkled face

There among the cheering crowd
Cheering sounds deep and loud
There before him passed floats and bands
Beautiful young girls waving their hands

In the distant heard the American anthem began
to play and the old soldier proudly raised his hand
as best as he could with honor erectly stood
There among the crowd a portrait of all that's good

Then Old Glory came passing by
Tears slowly appeared in his eye
in remembrance of his dying friends;
brothers' in arms until eternity ends

Not for adulation or applause
Freedom, Freedom! A worthy  cause
Freedom for our democracy
And to ensure a free Society.

Details | Johnny Martinez Poem

Death On the Beaches of Normandy

Their courageous bodies lay like garland 
on the sandy shores of Normandy, 
Their duty there well defined.
Fearless of every returning home 
And with their dying breath's they whispered
For God, Country and the Flag
Let Freedom Ring, Let Freedom Ring
With their last full measure of loyalty
and impeccable divine gratitude. 
Honor now their vestment!
Their deaths filled with Integrity!

   They sacrificed their lives 
    Not  for "Honor or Glory!"
    For "The Stars and Stripes!"                                                                                               
    Known as "Old Glory!"