The Distilled Essence of Daphne on War: Jun 20, 2011

Monday, June 20, 2011

The Third Target

The Third Target

After Washington, D.C. and New York City,

We would be the third to destroy…

From Huntington To Portsmouth,

The Ohio River passes…

The busiest stretch of river in the world

And all that it encompasses—

Oil refinery, coal, and coke,

Chemicals, nuclear, railroader folk,

Pig iron and steel, some technology too…

The Ohio Valley holds a powerful brew.

Mmm Hmmm…Good Thinking

Mmm Hmmm…Good Thinking

For Mark Swede

He joined the army to avoid joining band.

He said there was one thing that he couldn’t stand:

“The band I left, to the army I went,

For there I know less time would be spent

Doing what makes me think my feet are to parch…

I joined the army ‘cause I hated to march.”

A Matter of Policy

A Matter of Policy

On matters of whether we’re going to war

America thinks like Capone—

You get so much more with a smile and a gun

Than ever with smile alone.

The Agony Here Too

The Agony Here Too

My young heart screamed “NO!”

Everyone was so angry;

Everyone was in shock…

Things were spinning out of control…

Or so it seemed.

Lies are a part of war,

But youth said no—

As youth often will…

Four shots.

Students dead in Kent.

Racial riots

Burning in Columbus.

Nowhere felt safe.

My heart wept for I could not understand then

What I still don’t understand now—

Hate the war; Hate the lies;

But why hate our girls and our guys?

A Hippy or Two

A Hippy or Two

Our area had protestors of the Nam war.

We even had a hippy or two.

A riot at Marshall got pretty hot—

I think they marched just over a block

And broke a furniture store window…

Well, some chairs can be pretty offensive!

The Fly Overs

The Fly Overs

For Edna Boggs, My Fourth Grade Teacher,

And Mike Justice, An Uncle

She would teach us patriotism,

Also to open our ears and our eyes…

Although atom bombs could be dropping,

Just look to the skies…

We heard that first supersonic boom

As the fighters flew over, protecting our town…

Though still in formation as they flew the round,

One tipped his wings just like a clown.

Russian

Russian

For Mr. Neville, Ironton Junior High Science

Teacher and Friend

What a radical thing to do during war—

Teach kids Russian and plant a thought:

Maybe things aren’t just what they seem to be

Nor truth as sure as you’ve been taught.

Oops!

Oops!

A hot-headed Marine answered the phone

And shouted in vulgar obscenities.

On the other end, now angry too,

“Do you know who you are talking to?”

“No.”

A general.

“Sir, do you know who you are talking to?”

“No, sir.”

“Good.”

Click.

And the Marine made a rapid retreat.

Ground Observer Ward Leader

Ground Observer Ward Leader

For Grandpa Leroy Bridges

Atop Cronacher Hill amidst the trees,

An observatory lookout…

He led the volunteers there to see

Which aircraft were about.

Wanting to help the war effort

But disability did forbid it,

He the home front to comfort;

Disappointed to join? He hid it.

Hitler threatened to take the Brits

And then to us he’d come.

The ground observer must keep his wits

And keep the vigil not numb.

If Brits fall and Hitler come

To us, we’d be third

To be hit with a mighty sum

Of bombings dropped from steel bird.

‘Though some laugh now

Thinking bombs imaginary, unreal…

But little realize Hitler…how

A world to rule—first kill.

Swim, Steel Fish

Swim, Steel Fish

For Joe Wiseman, a Cousin

Deep the steel fish swims

Sometimes in waters hostile

Where other steel fish also swim…

Deep, surface, afloat.

Any wrong move,

The Deep herself unmerciful…

At bottom too long,

Or rising too fast,

Or swimming not silent enough—

Fish gone.

Close quarters,

Some go mad—it’s too close,

Too tight;

To others,

A steel second skin

That bites.

Nothing prepares for that first dive…

The pops, creaking sighs

As the Deep presses into

Claim her fish…

And will continue to squeeze

And rock her baby

As Deep and exploding other fish

Meet…

Swim, steel fish,

Swim silently, deeply and fast…

May you not be hooked

Behind that hostile line

For no one will find you there.

You Never Existed

You Never Existed

Highly trained, dangerous pet Seal.

Go where you are sent.

Do what we bid you do

As our ears, eyes, and hands.

But, of you, we never knew

And if trouble does pursue you,

We will try to help you…

But if caught or killed,

We will act shocked—

He’s not one of us.

Do not learn from history

That we will not clear your name—

History lies; we lie…

But you go anyway.

We need what you can do.

And, remember,

Go or don’t go…

We will destroy you—

But we will be grateful.

Should you do all

And live…

Heavy awards

In silence we will give.

So, do well.

Unbelieved? Or Feared?

Unbelieved? Or Feared?

From each war healthy men and women

Return newly ill:

Sickness unknown,

Unbelieved

By VA, doctors,

Government.

Thousands after each war told

It’s all in your head;

IT does not exist:

What you said happened

Did not happen—

And that’s an order!

No, we would not drop Agent Orange,

Napalm, or any other weapon

On our men.

No, we would not bomb a known

Biological warfare storage center or lab

Upwind of our people.

No, we would not use our soldiers

Or our civilians

In large scale experiments on the sly.

And, no,

We will not believe you

When we are caught in our lie.

We will deny…

And try to discredit you.

What Fought For

What Fought For

Soldier, consider why you fight,

Why you march into the endless night

That could fall on you even if you live?

Soldier, what to you seems right

With war within your sight

That calls you your life and all to give?

The price paid is not just from you,

Those left behind and love you, too,

Pay your sacrificial price.

Is it for glory or what you think true?

Is it to protect that defends what you do…

And alone…will it suffice?

The Distilled Essence of Daphne on War