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Man Started as a baby who watched killing on TV. Whose childhood was Uncle Sam and the ROTC. Took turns being cowboy and Indian, finger guns Hunting with dad, rifles and handguns But nothing could prepare him for the way that blood runs From the lips of a friend He left at 18 Couldn’t seem to grow a beard. Didn’t matter when he was covered in jungle mud from ear to ear. Kool Aid and biscuits It sounded like a dream Living indoors. Working on machines. But what the cargo brought back Demanded to be seen Bags upon bags hoisted on backs Swung around like jump ropes Among the soldier’s jumping jacks Every beating moment a guilt-filled flashback The blood from the lips of an enemy or friend Reddening the mud, trickled to no end A gun on his side Who was fighting who? The roles were unclear Muddied and hazy, orange and dark blue No need for TV. The war’s in his mind. Engraved in his eyelids. Pace, panic, grind Is he a man? Can he ever grow old? If his life is just one story that keeps getting told Child. Man. Nam. - Vietnam
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Dec 24, 2018
Dec 24, 2018 at 5:55 PM UTC
to the vietnam vet.
Man Started as a baby who watched killing on TV. Whose childhood was Uncle Sam and the ROTC. Took turns being cowboy and Indian, finger guns Hunting with dad, rifles and handguns But nothing could prepare him for the way that blood runs From the lips of a friend He left at 18 Couldn’t seem to grow a beard. Didn’t matter when he was covered in jungle mud from ear to ear. Kool Aid and biscuits It sounded like a dream Living indoors. Working on machines. But what the cargo brought back Demanded to be seen Bags upon bags hoisted on backs Swung around like jump ropes Among the soldier’s jumping jacks Every beating moment a guilt-filled flashback The blood from the lips of an enemy or friend Reddening the mud, trickled to no end A gun on his side Who was fighting who? The roles were unclear Muddied and hazy, orange and dark blue No need for TV. The war’s in his mind. Engraved in his eyelids. Pace, panic, grind Is he a man? Can he ever grow old? If his life is just one story that keeps getting told Child. Man. Nam. - Vietnam
alycet
Written by
alycet
17/F/Bay Area
Dec 24, 2018
Dec 24, 2018 at 5:55 PM UTC
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