- Non-Erotic Poetry
- Dear John
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running and ducking; mortars exploding all around
the sky lit up like day, his buddies gone
gooks everywhere; couldn’t find his unit
bullets zipping by his head
pinging off trees so close; the screams
of bodies coming apart like rag dolls
the thud of death mingled with blood
spurting and scattering. falling into a trench
sounds muted, breath returns
cigarette inhaled shielded by his helmet
pulling the letter out; his sweetest love
his only hope of keeping sane
his Birthday was yesterday
today the Day for Lovers
he smiled at their love
remembering trips for a coke, proms,
and to Scoops for ice cream
her perfume in his car; on his clothes.
the high school love
the promise to marry
and ‘goin all the way’
the tears at his call up
her vow to wait
her love strengthening him
Dear Freddy
I hate this
remember Davy?
His heart pauses...
We’re gonna marry
next weekend
I’m so sorry
he drowns in the silence, his hope gone
finishing his smoke he rages
out of the trench helmet forgotten
charges the line, M-1 heating up the night
bodies falling right and left, three, seven dead
his unit stands in awe as the earth spits at his feet
sounds around him drowned in his screams
her whispered ‘I love you, Bobby’ all he hears
as he runs out of ammo and stands; hands raised
Dedicated to SGT Robert Elia, born 12 Feb, 1947
Killed in Action So Vietnam 13 Feb, 1968
Happy Valentines Day, Bobby!
- COMMENTS
LeBrozover 16 years agoThis poem was mentioned in the Archival Review thread, in a picking through Lit's archive of over 37,000 poems.
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sandspikeabout 20 years agothen you weave the lines into a blanket of emotion. There
have been Roberts since the first battle, I wish he
could of been the last..
jthserraabout 20 years agoof battle juxtaposed against the ice of that letter. Powerful, painful poem.
jim
Angelineabout 20 years agoHow many of still carry these unhealed scars from Nam? Sometimes I picture a map of America covered with scars, and Viet Nam is one of the worst. You told the story perfectly--straight on, unembellished. It's a wonderful tribute. :)
Icingsugarabout 20 years agoserved with with equal hellfires of war and heartbreaks. You have a way to tell things simple, straight on as it is, without ever being tacky, a most admirable ability.
