Vietnam

For My Dad

 

He's wounded,

Not of the flesh

but of the soul

 

The war was bad.

He was shot twice

in the middle of a foreign jungle.

 

He got hurt,

Almost killed

but those physical wounds have mostly healed,

while he's left with the internal pain

for the rest of the time he can feel.

All to serve his country.

 

I can't imagine the images

that still exist in his head.

Everyday seeing the replay

of the dead bodies laying in a pool

of each others blood.

 

He was so young

but man enough to survive.

 

No kid,

not even a man should have to do

what he did.

 

No kid,

not even a man should have to see

what he saw,

in those many days of Vietnam.

Author's Note

Nothing's perfect,Don't be too harsh please!

Reviews

[Mr. Lopez]

What a sensless and brutal war but is there any other kind? I was too young to remember it but i have several uncles who still live with the nightmares. I think its great that you acknowledge the lives lost and the damage done to those young men that managed to make it out alive. Nice work.

Mr.Lopez

[Forest Green]

Moving tribute to a wonderful individual and a personal revelation of the horrors of war.

Nice work...

Daniel

[An owl on the moon]

A profound, deeply moving piece so full of love for one who has suffered to sustain the hope of others... Thank you for the depth and inspiration of your words!

Craig

[Sarah]

This is a nice poem, captures the darkness of war & the horror that is seen and constantly relived by soldiers who fought. Nicely written.^^

[Michael Carr]

I enjoyed it, as a reflection of vietnam. made me go back over my own work The Saviors, reflect upon all the horrible things that did go down there. that said, the piece is very well written, simple imagery and a near emotionless voice add to the sense of horror throughout the work.
a great tribute to ur father.
well done muffin...I mean cupcake.
:P