Flashback to Mekong: The War in Viet Nam

Flashback to Mekong: The War in Viet Nam

For Dustin Massie, Daniel Massie, David Massie,

Wayne Massie, and James Delong, My Cousins Who

All served willingly and honorably

And still the evil fought through lives

In minds and bodies all tattered

With memories of a limb or an ear

Or a child blown up and scattered.

Flashback to the now of the time when we hid

From the nightmare of still living

With a best friend’s right arm,

All that was left, of the life he was giving…

For a country who hated us…

In a country who hated us…

No reprieve.

Nineteen years old and proud of this land

Of our birth, our family, and teaching,

Many were drafted, so they couldn’t say no,

Regardless of the masses loud screeching.

War heroes, yeah right, stoned out of our minds

Blinding to terrors more real

Than any horror king knows,

And in our souls they live with us still…

For a country who hated us…

In a country who hated us…

No reprieve.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.

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!

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.

Take the Hit

Take the Hit

For  Mr. Long, Town Hero,

Uncle Bill Fortune, My Cousin Jimmy Delong

A soldier alone,

Sees the enemy,

Heading for camp…

A grenade…

One body a shield—

To be killed

Or perhaps worse

Maimed for life?

Either that

Or the whole camp

Killed.

Take the hit…

For the save.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.

Singing for Her Brother

Singing for Her Brother

For My Cousins Joyce and Dusty Massie

My cousin Joyce was up on that stage singing,

So beautiful and so strong—

My secret heroine through school…

Turning pale, lips quivering…

But her head held high

As she sang the song

For the Green Berets.

Dusty was over there,

That place where many went,

Few seemed to return…

That place that protestors scorned

And politicians lied for…

Oh may our kin not die for!

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.

Flashback to Mekong: The War in Viet Nam

Flashback to Mekong: The War in Viet Nam

For Dustin Massie, Daniel Massie, David Massie,

Wayne Massie, and James Delong, My Cousins Who

All served willingly and honorably

And still the evil fought through lives

In minds and bodies all tattered

With memories of a limb or an ear

Or a child blown up and scattered.

Flashback to the now of the time when we hid

From the nightmare of still living

With a best friend’s right arm,

All that was left, of the life he was giving…

For a country who hated us…

In a country who hated us…

No reprieve.

Nineteen years old and proud of this land

Of our birth, our family, and teaching,

Many were drafted, so they couldn’t say no,

Regardless of the masses loud screeching.

War heroes, yeah right, stoned out of our minds

Blinding to terrors more real

Than any horror king knows,

And in our souls they live with us still…

For a country who hated us…

In a country who hated us…

No reprieve.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.