signature on official forms
herded cattle physicals
assembly line standard issue
identity left on the barbers floor
eight man prison cell
robotic feeding line
hiking through winter's worst
melting in summer's heat
low crawl and pull the pin
rotate 'safety' to 'auto'
center mass and fire
snap facing movements
congratulations of graduation
orders recieved from headquarters
confidential assignment
foreign destination
enemy crosses the wire
'fire'
enemy across the line
'fire'
time passes violently
now at last you are home
a veteran
a hero
all the missions
all the campaigns
the experience, the training
and not one god damn word on
how to deal with the scars
of the memories.
Author notes
"we came in spastic
like untamed horses
we left in plastic
as numbered corpses"
~Billy Joel~
"Goodnight Saigon" got me thinking. When you are in the service, you're trained for everything, except how to deal with the fact and memory of killing someone. I'm grateful I never had to.
Written August 4th, 2002
A contest entry
- Military Poems by Pollycheck.
450 points, ended April 21, 2008, 94 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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I like your poem, not so much the comments here... people themselves need to learn to help.. the uniforms come off.. when you see a person having trouble struggling, have compassion fight things like title loans and pay day loans. do not turn your nose up have compassion and listen.. these things are part of PTSD.
Ask what you can do to help.. now they help families a little still not enough . with Vietnam vets waiting for claims families went bankrupt and lost houses. Educate yourselves if you have a vet friend or family member and know how to help and understand.
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Thank you for entering my military background. I would agree with you in years past, but I do believe now that we are trying to help our veterans cope. I am personally working with several veterans that are having problems coping. I am giving them the help that I never received when I returned from Vietnam.
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This is really amazing.I'm sorry I didn't read it earlier. I see and feel what it was like for you in so few words. I'm glad you made it home and that I have the priviledge of knowing you. I'm sorry that you had to experience that violence for my sake but I will be forever grateful to you and all those who went and especially to those who never came home. Patty
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amazing write. i really like that different things inspired you, and you wrote a wonderful write from that inspiration. This poem is great-it really makes the reader thinks. It's worded very well, and has a strong format. I'd really like to use this poem for my US history project, please get back to me if this is okay or not with you.
Thanks for entering, & good luck.
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great poem. war memories can never be forgotten...i can only imagine the horrors who may have witnessed,a nd the friends that may have been lost.
blessed be. -
Thank you all for your kind comments, they mean alot.
I wasn't in any nose to nose combat but burnt memories of the carnage and destroyed life will always be there. I was in the Gulf War and was very fortunate to make it home, others weren't so lucky.
Thanx again for reading and commenting. Take care. Rodney -
don't touch it!
that was awesome, i thought i'd be like one of mine(front line warrior) but very very great poem(were you a vet.?) -
don't touch it!
very good write, I'm glad you didn't have to kill anyone also. This keeps you thinking. I know you have memories that are not FORGOTTEN. They are in all those cobwebs in your head,with all the words you put in your POEMS. -
don't touch it!
wow, great write... A very different poem, a topic not seen too often on here. congrats! -
don't touch it!
I always hated that song. It hurt too damn much to listen to it... (((HUGS))) and Sweet Dream....
Pat -
don't touch it!
Very powerful write...a lot of truth in it. Great job. -
don't touch it!
We might as well brand them...
It's a horrible thing and has ruined some good men out there. Their nightmares and memories last a lifetime. They have seen things that I can never truly understand. What of their horrors?
Very powerful and sensitive write pen on -
don't touch it!
I have heard that is a very haunting feeling.
You are one of my heroes for helping to maintain this country's freedom...I thank you for that!
THis is an excellent write!
~Gayla~ -
don't touch it!
Oh yea... wow... you captured it perfectly. They don't help you deal with any of it... This is a powerful piece, one of the best i've read by you. Excellent !! -
neutral
Wow Rodney. Such a true picture of how it must be. And with no training on how to deal with the scars.. they last a life time...
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