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Open Poetry #44
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Fishing With Grenades (a repost for The Day)
| Open Poetry #44 |
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Fishing With Grenades (a repost for The Day) |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows 
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We started out as boys of prey believing what we'd learned, some not even twenty mostly poor with nothing earned, some were born to plenty came from worlds I never knew; obscenities became the common glue that held our words together as we learned to stay alive. We hated everything about the place, boots, food, mud, crud that stuck eyelids together, weather, newsies, amateurish boorish fools buffoons with cameras, tape recorder spools, whiskey up the ass, white skin round eyed nurses only sleeping with the brass. I had it easy making ends meet on common ground in the jungle with the bloods, they hated all the snowflakes and I hated everyone, we started young and frightened using ordnance like toys; some were bagged up early flying home to flowers, all the lucky ones were tagged. The rest of us stopped being boys a tour or two ago tucked our fears into our dreams and didn't really sleep. Nightmares came like boom-boom girls loud with lots of flash. I grew to be something else between human and a man lost the fear of dying on a blood trail in the bush later I replaced it with a fear of going home; even that got washed away until where I was was all I'd ever known. We learned it don't mean nothin' to get by the best you can, watch the ghosts come at you and sometimes let them pass, watch the tracer colors red could be OK but green means someone's zeroed on your ass. I don't make friends; they always die and I hate them when they do. Pass the shotgun here because we're back alive again; play the music loud and clear I might even hear it above the ringing in my ears. Anybody hungry? Put a good edge on your blades. Wake up Doc and build a fire I feel like fishing with grenades. ©2003, 2009 by icebox . . |
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| © Copyright 2009 icebox - All Rights Reserved | |||
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
This leaves a deep ache in my heart. You are one fine writer. You can draw out any emotion from most readers as called for. latearrival |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Dear Box of Ice, I was so shaken up by your vivid descriptions on the harsh realities of war, that it has taken me a moment to regain my composure to write you a reply. The following lines were especially grabbing and sorrowful, "some were bagged up early flying home to flowers, all the lucky ones were tagged." God bless each and every one of you who has served their country so honourably. Love, Peacy, and Harmony, EA  P.S. You are one helluvva fine writer!!! |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
Wonderfully written.  "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
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Bloodline Member
since 2009-05-23
Posts 236Oklahoma |
Great flow and depth to words and images created, "In Country" certainly wasn't Kansas, jungle or forest, each teaches survival, enjoyed, Bloodline |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
You pen the moment and the emotions so very well. I never went to Nam, but '67 to '92 had it's own tumbles in the Nav. |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Yo icebox, Yes, I've heard of that being done. Bobby |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Hard to reply with something intelligent |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Intense. Nam by any other name.... Today, I walked and listened to the heart-song that haunts Gettysburg. It cries the same tune I heard in Europe and the ME. The agony of war appears to last forever. |
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