Poem #6–1968
Posted: 16 October 2012 Filed under: Observations, Poetry, War | Tags: Poems, Postaday 2012 6 Comments »Tonite is the nite……another big debate…..but as usual it is all about optics, not substance. Who will win? People hear what they want to hear and see what they want to see…..so whoever you guy is…..He will win. And the “undecideds”…..if there are people that have not made up their minds then they are the same ones that stroke out over the question……paper or plastic?
More poems that helped me cope………..The year is drawing to a close and I am stuck in Hell….most notably Ft. Hood, Texas. Yes, Hell! The civilian population does not give a shit about us….the new guys in the 2nd Armored Division can not relate….they still think war is some romantic bullshit starring Errol Flynn…this is when I started asking the question….over and over……
Why The Fuck?
Why the fuck
Did I come home?
The Land where no one cares’
I a crowd
I feel alone.
People stop and stare
But no one dare
Speak a word
Just a turn
And a whisper.
You have that 1000 meter stare
Flinching at every noise loud
Freaking when it rains
Waiting
For that adrenalin rush
That never comes
Just the same question,
Why the fuck?
CHUQ Nov1969
Yep. I made the mistake of wearing my bright yellow marine corps sweatshirt out in public after I was discharged in December 1968 and one guy approached me, calling me a “baby killer”. So I killed him. NOT.
Larry, to tell the truth..I still carry a resentment…though not as hard as it was say 20 years old…..
Wow Chuq.
Thanks for sharing this! Three of our boys have been at Ft. Hood (one is still there) but I know it’s under much better circumstances than when you were there!
Marie, I hated Ft Hood…in those days it was not military friendly….
Great poem…reminds me of when I was in Basic at Fort Ord.
I went to language school at Monterrey….beautiful posts….