Ain't no f*****g good war...

Old poem with a re-write.

(Johnnie at Fort Ord, California. 1992.)

Ain’t no f*****g good war.

A Poem by Coyote Poetry
Can’t allow the hate and fear to overcome us. World been the same for a long time. Must dance and love. Never know when it is time to go.

Ain’t no f*****g good war...

Old WW2 Vet  sat alone. He raised his glass to the sky and he looked at an empty seat. “To the good war my friend.” He drank his shot of whiskey. “He whispered, ain’t no f*****g good war. ” He put his face into his hands.

Father had his ribbons and awards over the fireplace from the Korea war. We watched war movies together. He was the hero who always saved me. On the weekend he would drink his rum. Late at night I would sit with him and he would talk to dead buddies left in the Korean dirt. He would tell me. “No war is worth a s**t.”

Old Vietnam Vet was dying. The agent orange had made him 110 pounds and the VA won’t see him anymore. The VA doctors told him nothing they can do for him. I sat with him and listen. He told me he volunteers and was proud. He thought he was doing the right thing. He looked me in the eyes and whispered “All my friends are dead. I will see them soon. War is f**k-up my friend. “What will I tell them? Did the War have any reason? Was it just a f*****g grave filled with hate?”

I tried to put myself in the places where living another day is your goal. Being hungry and needing medical are your daily needs. Watching their world fall apart around them. I go to graves of good friends. They died in Iraq for the hatred of the Bush’s years. I whispered “F**k you war.”

                              Coyote

Reviews

[barleygirl]

With great interest & compassion, I have read your many posting with this message, but this might be one of the most intensely-stated that I've read from you about it. I feel very intensely about this, too. I'm no expert on the military or on war, I just know that so many of the men I've loved over the years went all gung-ho into battle for their country, & then spent the rest of their lives regretting & feeling so bitter about the reasons this country goes to war & how wars play out for years & years. It's so damn ugly, there's just no other way to put it. Thank you for always harping on this becuz we can't just tune out & forget that our country harbors the most lethal & expansive killing machine on earth, which is paid for by tax dollars, meaning we support this. Sometimes your msgs click my switch! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

LOVE THE PICTURE OF YOU & BUDDIES!

[Coyote Poetry]

Hello dear Margie. I was young once. Maybe not so smart. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Ted Kniffen]

No such thing as a 'good' war John ... even the 'necessary ones rained death and destruction on the world.
My dad and uncles were WW2 vets ... they drank to remember ... they drank to forget and some, like my dad drank themselves into early graves ... but not once did I hear it was a good war.

This is a powerful read. I like the poem ... not so much the subject.

Stay well my friend ... keep warm ...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ted. My stepfather was a WW2 vet. He served in freeing Europe in1943-1945. He never said one word about the war years.

[Ted Kniffen]

One thing in which I have been remiss is ... Thank you John for your service /// the pain is reflected in your writing.

[Paul Bell]

War is just an excuse to test out the latest weaponry, cut the population down, and generally have a love in when they realise the war wasn't winning the war. Though if you're a poor British soldier returning from war, you usually find the enemy is now suing you and the British courts are allowing them.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Paul. Here in the USA. Most of the homeless. Forgotten Vietnam vets. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Nope never a good war. Even the winners lose. Too much death, destruction and repercussions afterwards.
This moved me greatly.
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Jacob. I agree and I pray my grandchildren are not fighting the old men "Old wars."