A NIGHT UNDER FIRE

6 Comments

  • queenrosered
  • Waiting for escrow to close on our new house in Vegas...will still visit Mexico often! Sorry I've been away so long from this site! Great to be "home" :D

Poem Commentary

My own "Warrior" husband, Ron, was in Nam, 82nd Airborn ranger, shot twice, 2 tours 1969-1972. 2 Purple Hearts, 4 BronzeStars and one scarred soul later, he is still, thankfully alive, to tell as much as he feels he can. Just the tip of the iceberg; he will carry most of he experiences from there to his grave, as most of this era's soldiers did and still do. Thanks to all in uniform, you humble me.

A NIGHT UNDER FIRE

Tracers streaming through the night,
No time for fear, no place for flight.
The smell of death is all around;
We dug a home inside this ground.

Enemy evading rifle's sights,
We don't see them but smell their fright.
Puff The Magic Dragon called to take the aim
With rapid mini-guns, another victory claimed.

The taste makes grown men choke;
A trace of it yet lingers.
Rancid smell,burnt bodies; smoked,
Weapons clasped in shell-shocked fingers.

Body trembles with fear and wrath
As monsoons roar above our heads.
In foxholes we take our baths
Then with daybreak, count our dead.

The Captain signals to regroup,
As one, we seek for higher ground.
As medics land, we help to move,
Injured comrades we have found.

Another day in jungle "Paradise",
All youthful innocence expired.
The warriors gaze now in our eyes;
For some, their last night under fire.

Poem Comments

(6)

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MindNumbing commented on A NIGHT UNDER FIRE

02-19-2010

The imagery of this piece is vivid and horrifying. I have a couple family members who fought in Vietnam and the tiny bits of communications that they've allowed throughout the years regarding the matter makes it obvious that it still haunts them to this day and always will. Bravo to you AND a HUGE BRAVO to your husband, who is a hero to all Americans!

queenrosered

02/23/2010

I thank you my dear poet friend and my "hero" husband thanks you as well! Peace and Love, Rose. XD

koolmom0 commented on A NIGHT UNDER FIRE

01-21-2010

Again a wonderful poem my friend, the imagry is awesome. and once again it pulled at my heart strings. Kool

queenrosered

01/21/2010

Thanks again, dear Kool! U R Indeed, way kool! Love, Rose! XD

SavVySam commented on A NIGHT UNDER FIRE

01-21-2010

The abject horror of a scene like this made so much more surreal by the use of a fairytale reference in the mix! Great write!

queenrosered

01/21/2010

Thanks so much Savvy! Actually, Puff, the Magic Dragon is what the soldiers called the C-119 planes that had 8 mini-gun turrents loaded on them, able to swoop down on the enemy and deliver a lot of rapid fire in a short amount of time.But yes, my warrior husband said at times, the whole mess seemed very surreal...thanks so much! Rose. XD

SavVySam

01/21/2010

Well thank you for the info, love to learn and that puts a different spin on things!

queenrosered commented on A NIGHT UNDER FIRE

01-21-2010

TYVM Super, awesome comments as usual, much appreciated! Peace and Love, Rose! XD

SuperChick76 commented on A NIGHT UNDER FIRE

01-21-2010

Very beautifully written. It captures the reader's attention, bringing us there, in that home of dirt. Brilliantly written.

Poetry is what gets lost in translation.

Robert Frost (1875-1963) American Poet.