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Open Poetry #37
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Scenes Of Bataan
| Open Poetry #37 |
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Scenes Of Bataan |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
After my uncle came home from Bataan, He would stand by the window-staring At winter-mumbling, mostly incoherent Odd language-gibberish between English Words like "japs" and "jungle", mixed With short, unfinished sentences...like "falling from palms"-"death leads to victory" But there were no snipers or soldiers, Hiding in our yard, or up in the maples. Evidence was in his body twitches That birds nests became coconuts, Or were they heads, with slanted eyes? His trigger finger would curl like a hunter Of deer or men, to him it didn't matter, He was preparing to squeeze off a round At the something or nothing, that slunk Through forsythias- as buds and bodies, Of both, hid things that were yellow- Husk and skin were alike to him-beauty And death (both) hidden by camouflage. But all a boy of six could see Was his mothers clothes-pants And sheets, hanging stif-froze Between the house and first tree; But etched on the brain of his uncle Were scenes of Bataan-the Bataan Made a hell by the devil of war, Whose evil would not let him leave. |
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| © Copyright 2006 ford hume - All Rights Reserved | |||
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froggy Senior Member
since 2003-06-23
Posts 1893Michigan |
Ford, I'm lost for words on this one. :-) Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, |
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jane_kiedis Junior Member
since 2006-02-04
Posts 38Philippines |
dunno what to say... i just felt it...  psychic spies from China tries to steal your mind's elation |
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Bodger Senior Member
since 2005-06-12
Posts 1260Tolerance for a short time |
Yes and it is well ignored It always happened over there And why are you bringing this home Dont become a Bushite America supported the deaths of a lot of people in South American and the British invented the concentration in South Africa Dont expect virgins to survive nor people who have to move be beyond the pales to come back normal - when you select on the grounds that they are poor and working for a University Grant - they wont normally show a writing finger Dave |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
This is excellent work. There is a line that can be crossed in the human mind from which there is no retreat. With luck the memories may be stored and kept somewhat secured from interfering with daily life...but not always. You have done well to describe a person who has had to cross that line and who survived. Thank you for writing this. |
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RedStoneEB Senior Member
since 2003-06-08
Posts 772uk |
Sometimes its best to leave them to it playing way in a peaceful world |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
And before your uncle, what relative might you recall from stories alone, who served a cause greater than he? Not all men wish for war, not all men will serve, nor women, either... But for those who have, and whom remember the evil... know they did what they could to dispel it. As always, Ford, I am glad to read you. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I like the way you showed us the unfolding scene from different vantage points. It would be great if the young one who only sees the flapping sheets now, only sees them in the future as well. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ford....An amazingly clear look into the heart, by just describing the scene....so well done, with tenderness and compassion.  |
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Dominique-Simone Senior Member
since 2005-11-12
Posts 643 |
But all a boy of six could see Was his mothers clothes-pants And sheets, hanging stif-froze Between the house and first tree; But etched on the brain of his uncle Were scenes of Bataan-the Bataan Made a hell by the devil of war, Whose evil would not let him leave I think the word WOW, sums it up |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
hanging stif-froze such description; I remember clothes suspended like that in the winter. It is a shame war can do the same. A touching poem. misce |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
"Husk and skin were alike to him-beauty And death (both) hidden by camouflage." I too am speechless save for Wow! |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Froggy The seven you typed prove you are wrong...they explain how you feel, and are sufficient, plenty good enough..thank you. Jane.. ditto my words to froggy.. Thank you. Bodger In no way am I a Bushie, distance does not do justice to measure our apartness..hmmm is that a word? My uncle certainly moved "beyond the pales" was a recluse his whole life...When I grew up I found out why...and still it goes on...  Thank you for reading.I-box Man, I am glad you read this..I know you would understand where I was coming from...It is a true story..My Uncle Charlie was a pow in a Japanese camp...he crossed the line, but never made it fully back home... Thank you for reading.. Red Stone Thank you for reading and the reply. Kari Yes, he did serve" a cause greater than he." And he did do the best he could to dispel the evil... But the evil of war is still here, and it will linger...the same as it did in his life...soldiers coming home are always different...some to an extreme, like my uncle. I am the one who is glad.. "as always",,,glad to have been read by you....  Midnitesun....O, how I love that nic... The sheets were all I saw, yes, My hope is that someday there will be no returning soldiers, that stand by windows and see the enemy, instead of cloths hang to dry. Thank you for reading, and the reply.Martie "with tenderness and compassion"....indeed what I tried to display....thank you... D.S. Thank you for reading...The last stanza is the hardest for me to write, in any poem...thank you for quoting it... MsCe It is a fond memory from my childhood...those frozen clothes, brought in...the scent of them...ahhh so sweet and fresh. Glad you remember them also.. Thank you for reading... Lady Thank You, "wow" is good enough, a one word speech, that means so much. |
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