The heavy clouds sagging, the darkness of rain.
This was my greeting as I stepped off the plane.
Vietnam was a country about which I’d heard
and up until now, it was only a word.
For the next dozen months, I would discover
just what it meant as the truth was uncovered
in laughter, in pain, in moments of loss,
gathering memories, my personal cross.
It didn’t take long for the truth to appear.
The one thing we knew: there was no “winning” here.
It was wondrous land full of natural beauty
which we slowly destroyed in the name of duty.
For an eighteen year old, it was like a first breath.
I came to know despair, loss of faith, even death.
But I also learned courage and self sacrifice,
lessons that taught the true meaning of life.
For a year I survived, though some comrades fell.
It was a year of discovery… it was a year of hell.
The lesson I carried as I headed home on the plane:
This won’t be resolved and I’ll be back again.
Author notes
Sound familiar? Ask any returning Iraqi vetran... (except the rain 
)
Warrant Officer, Helicopter Pilot: Vietnam 1967-1968; 1970 - 1971
Prompt: Vietnam
Picture Credit: http://ilovefrisco.deviantart.com/art/Vietnam-50300290
No less than 10 lines; no more than 30.
A contest entry
- Vietnam Big Points by BuriedTreasures.
6000 points, ended August 11, 2008, 12 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Critical Comments Always Welcome
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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A heartfelt write of your experiences of war, I found this very moving and appreciate the sharing through your words of this time in your life.
Congrats on the Gold.
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this is a personnel look into what you experienced in Vietnam, one that I can only imagine was very painful as well as emotionally difficult.
this piece was written from your heart and is very well written. I like this for many reasons.
Congratulations on the Gold, but I think that this piece goes beyond the winning of a trophy
kat
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Thank you for the read! Take care...
Ken -
Cont on the shinney. Well done. A very true story writen in vurse. Thank you from the rest of us.
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Congratulations!!
A wonderful poem you have penned. This so deserved the Gold.
Thank you for sharing your experiences there. And a big thank you for serving your country.
Bless You,
Sandy
Excellent rhyming too!
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Congratulations on the well-deserved Gold!
Your entry met all the requirements that I was seeking in hosting this contest!
Well Done!
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I like this piece for a number of reasons.
--First, it is well composed and versed with good flow of the rhyming verse.
Second---Proper grammar & punctuation throughout
Third and most important--An honest portrayal of your feelings as well as your 'Opinion' of the Vietnam
war which was my main objective in hosting this contest.
Thank you for your entry.
Well Done & Welome to the finalist list!
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Poignant!
It's easy to tell that these are words from the heart & experience. You've penned a dramatic, touching & very well done piece here. It's like a mini-encapsulation of what I'm sure all your buddies experienced along with you! This to me appears to be a brief, personal history of a troop experience in Nam. I can't imagine that you'll do anything but great in this contest! It griped my heart. The content & flow of this was Primo, as was the timing & rhyming. All the best with this splendid write. I'm glad you came home in one piece so you could share all your fine poetry with us!
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Thank you, Kathie... A wonderful comment and I appreciate you taking the time...
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It's alway good to hear the voice of experience in pieces like this. You did a wonderful job of telling your story ... you made us feel the reality of the human being in the soldier
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aww what a moving piece had me in tears. Powerful and hit me straight in the heart. I enjoyed reading it. Talented poem with such emotion
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My dad served in Vietnam but unlike our heros today he was NOT welcomed home with love and encouragement!! Isn't it funny that when we went over there it was an act of "terrorism" and our heros were NOT welcomed home but because we suffered an act of terrorism on our own homeland our men returning from freeing a country from oppression is seeing as an act of heroism? Well whatever the scenerio I say that ANY man or woman who has put their life on the line for GOD and COUNTRY is a HERO!!! Sadly my dad returned broken and unwhole and never recovered, unfortunately his family suffered and it took him years to die of his wounds....I will celebrate the passing of a fine soldier this October. Thank you for penning such a stunning piece.
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Wonderfully captured!! This was very moving, so well written. Your rhyme is great, not awkward at all. Excellent work, good luck in the contest.
(line 12 meant to be name 'of' duty?)
(line 13, 'an' eighteen year old)
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