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oceanvu2
Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA

0 posted 2007-05-18 07:20 PM


Guard Duty


Hunched in a bunker,  staring at the South China
Sea.  This could be a night of landing craft,
Of submarines, of pitch-sealed fishing boats,
Or night of sandwiches and roaches, like
Every other night on guard.  A night for
Contemplation.  

How strange is this?  To receive a Dear John
Letter from the mother of my wife?
Oh, to be hated.  Oh, to be loved. And whom
Do I see, a chaplain, colonel, none of the
Above?

I suspect that I will hear from you while
Kissing.  I may guard diligently, bunkered down,
But I cannot protect your heart, or change
The months and miles between us.  
I’m  watching for the Northern Navy.
I hope they get your mother.

Jim

© Copyright 2007 Jim Aitken - All Rights Reserved
viking_metal
Senior Member
since 2007-02-02
Posts 1337
In a Jeep, Minnesota.
1 posted 2007-05-19 12:29 PM


Holy fricking sweet. Did you get ahold of this from that stash of on planet-x (or wherever it was?) that you told me about?


-paul

oceanvu2
Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA
2 posted 2007-05-25 12:35 PM


Hi Paul!  Yup, I'm going back to recovered poems from my mid '20's. It's almost like a personal history lesson.  So many things change.  I didn't have the luxury of dying young, and I've become a lot more cynical.

Best, Jim, and you are doing good work!


Aurelian
Member
since 2007-03-20
Posts 109
TX, USA
3 posted 2007-05-25 07:03 AM


Aw, c'mon Jim. Wise old guys don't always have to get cynical, do they? Ain't that the just the cheap way to lookin' smart?

[This message has been edited by Aurelian (05-26-2007 10:09 AM).]

dwgpoet
Member
since 2007-03-05
Posts 122
FL, USA
4 posted 2007-05-28 02:06 AM


Reminds me of my
Navy guard duty
except I never
Received any Dear John note
since I went in a Virgin
Came out cursing many moms.

copyright dwgpoet 2007

oceanvu2
Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA
5 posted 2007-05-30 07:46 PM


Aurelian -- I hate being cynical.  I want to be 22 years old again, convinced that people are good, love works, and there is a brighter tomorrow.  Unfortunately, I find myself believing:  Nothing ever changes: It doesn't get any better, and it doesn't make any difference.

I'm hoping by the time I'm 70 I will be sitting on a porch passing out lollipops to passers byers, and that this isn't considered deviant behavior.

Best, Jim

oceanvu2
Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA
6 posted 2007-05-30 08:05 PM


dwgpoet:  Love it.  My favorite insane guard duty experience was being sent to a fighting platform toting a .50 caliber machine gun.  None of the three of us at this post new how to turn it on.  This was probably a good thing as it kept our collar bones from bing shattered.

Best, Jim

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