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Open Poetry #7
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Letters From Home * Vietnam War Heroes Tribute ( a challenge ) UPDATED
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Open Poetry #7
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Letters From Home * Vietnam War Heroes Tribute ( a challenge ) UPDATED
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Letters From Home * Vietnam War Heroes Tribute ( a challenge ) UPDATED |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! 
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Letters From Home < !signature-->As i sit here on this rainslicked hill Blood coursing through my veins Though my heart is standing still The smell of fear lingers all around me For the enemies army is close So close, yet my eyes are too clouded to see Clouded by tears streaming down my face While reading what you wrote God, How I wish I could get out of this place Not that this place is all that bad Just the reason that I am here 'Cause my country is so power mad They sent us here to fight a war That isn't supposed to exist You'd think they could explain what we are dying for Every day when one man dies They replace him with another How could they be so blind? With all the violence going on 'round here I've seen men lose their minds Sometimes I may lose mine too I fear But your words they make me strong I could not keep my sanity If not for your letters from home April 29th marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Let's all write something to pay tribute to the HEROES that served there. Anyone interested can visit the virtual wall and view all the names on it at http://thevirtualwall.org/gallery/documents/database.htm. All my love, Jeffrey I lie awake in a world filled with dreams, but dreams can be so real when you don't know you're asleep [This message has been edited by Jeffrey Carter (edited 04-28-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Jeffrey D. Carter - All Rights Reserved | |||
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bobbycat Member
since 2000-02-06
Posts 233USA |
Now how did this one go by without a comment yet...?  Very descriptive, well written. And I agree--we need to raise awareness of this anniversary, for there is a whole new generation out there that does not know what a nightmare the Vietnam war was. You did a great job reminding us of this. Bobbycat =^..^= |
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tracie66 Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713Australia |
Very well written and so tenderly said. We must always remember our war heroes for they fought so hard and proud for our countries. April the 25th in Australia is a day we remember all our ANZACS that landed at Gallipoli, 600 Australian and NewZealand soldiers were killed that day.  I'll be thinking of your proud soldiers on April the 29thThanks for sharing the poem Jeffrey Tracie~ Keep all the windows of your mind open Anne Rooks |
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Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
God bless you for these wonderful words Kathleen |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
Thanks for the compliments. War is such an ugly thing. Most of the men that gave their all in Vietnam didn't ask to be there. They didn't have a choice. Most of them weren't past the age of 25. What is wrong with that picture??? All my love, Jeffrey |
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Marina Member Elite
since 2000-02-10
Posts 2245Pickering, Ontario |
Very nice tribute Jeffery. Thanks for sharing. Marina |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Jeffery what a fine tribute, it's nice to be reading your work again |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
Ruth, Welcome back! Glad to see you are feeling better. We missed you so much. All my love, Jeffrey I lie awake in a world filled with dreams, but dreams can be so real when you don't know you're asleep |
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Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
Jeffrey* Thank you so much for your reminder of those lost and those that carry the pain with them daily. I have an MIA bracelett of a man whose name is on the wall and wish that I could find the family that this man belonged to, I have searched to no avail and although I don't know who he is I feel who he is in this poem. This is a great piece with such power behind all the words. You've done well my friend in capturing the feelings. |
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Rosemary J. Gwaltney Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997northern mountains, Idaho |
A very moving poem, and a very touching memory. After watching horrifying footage on TV for so many years, the end of the Vietnam War meant to me, more than anything, that my first darling baby boy would not be drafted, and have to go and die there. The Vietnam War had been going on as long as I could remember. I was only a girl at the time. I am still grateful for Kyle's freedom. ~ ~ ~ It's interesting that my beginning life with him was marked with two enormous social changes - abortion rights while I was pregnant with him in '73, and then the end of the war in '75 - right? To me, the end of one war, the beginning of another. I now had the right to kill my baby, but now the government would not be going to. Man, what a social time of change that was! ~ ~ ~ Thank you for reminding me of the date the Vietnam War ended. That war did unspeakable emotional things to Kyle's father. He left us while Kyle was yet unborn. He is dead now. He was brutally murdered. Another yellowed crinkly parchment page in my life-book... one I have never written about. ~ ~ ~ < !signature--> The spiritual wind that holds survivors aloft, plants the seeds from which bloom new hope ... R.J.G. [This message has been edited by Rosemary J. Gwaltney (edited 04-27-2000).] |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Jeffery, powerful and touching work here. very well written. I will try to write something for your challenge...though this one comes a little harder for me...but I promise to try.(smile) take care,jm Is it too much to find an answer, Is it too much to hold you close. Is it too much to find a reason, Is it too much to free my soul -- From self control ... And I know you're always waiting for me ... You take me far away, And I know you're holding me ... And it's better now ... ~vertical horizon~ |
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Rex Allen McCoy Member Elite
since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863Sippin a Timmy's in London |
That war tore our family apart ... I served a tour of duty with the Canadian Armed Forces while my brother joined the U.S.Army and went to Nam ... Came back a basket case ... did some unspeakable things and is still in prison after 26 years |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
See link in post to visit the wall online I lie awake in a world filled with dreams, but dreams can be so real when you don't know you're asleep |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Jeffrey, when I first saw this post, I ignored it for a whole day, before I dared look at it. --I have faced a lot of pain in this forum -- and have created more poems for these causes. --- It is a huge can of worms ---and there is much anger - My heart just bleeds over that money grubbing senseless war; a war, that our boys were not prepared for. *Imagine - seeing a baby in the fields and running to save it ONLY To find that baby tied to a mine.* GRABOOM --- It was an unspeakable war, but the cause you have started is just -- Now, as my sons are now signed up with the 18 year old "draft" I shudder, to think that HISTORY can repeat itself. The poem and cause are great ----oh my aching heart ----- But it must be done! Take care, netswan [This message has been edited by netswan (edited 04-28-2000).] |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
Jeffery, excellent writing. Had a brother fight in the war, get wounded and come back a stranger. Has never recovered from the mental horror of it all. ~~nice work~~ A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives. |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
I would like to thank you all for posting your work on this subject. I know alot of feelings have brought into light that are very painful. You are truly brave souls to face the pain and put it into words. I hope your writing on this subject helps you in healing if only just a little. Other than what the members of my family who were there have told me and what I've seen in news reel archives I really don't know much about this war. However I am very aware of the emotions it brings. I believe any man or woman that has ever served in any war is a TRUE AMERICAN HERO. May God bless all those who did make it back. And all those who didn't may they rest their weary suols in heaven by his side. TY all again and love to you all. All my love, Jeffrey I lie awake in a world filled with dreams, but dreams can be so real when you don't know you're asleep |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Jeffrey I know every soldier must have thought to himself many times what was the reason he was fighting in a strange country far from home and why was he picked to fight and perhaps die when he was so young. I can understand how the fear, the violence, the anger, and the pain when your friends die could cause many to experience heatbreak and as you say lose their minds. James |
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A Romantic Heart Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-03
Posts 5496Forever In Your Heart |
Jeffery, I am gald you started this challege, we as poets have a voice through our hands to create words so powerful, more so than war or any weapons. Thanks for allowing us to pay tibute to our unsung HEROES...Wonderful poem you have written here! |
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Letters From Home * Vietnam War Heroes Tribute ( a challenge ) UPDATED
