Mercy we must give, mercy we must receive... Sanctuary.

July poetry number thirty-two.

Sanctuary...

In the valley of the gun, men learn the taste of blood.

When the soldiers fight, when the soldier kill.

They learn the blood song.

My father fought in the Korean war and he fought in the Vietnam war.

He tried to drink the memories away.

The sanctuary of the rum saved him and the rum murdered him.

He told me, son, I left the war.

No-one told me thank you and now.

I drink with my dead friends in the midnight hours.

Father died young, the rum killed his insides and

he didn't complain.

He told me, son, the damn war had finally killed me.

Slowly and badly my son.

Please don't allow your children to follow my hell-bound life.

The sad part. I followed his journey.

Now I drink my whiskey and I talk to dead friend killed in the new wars.

My children didn't follow my path and I am glad.

Tonight, I write the whiskey lullaby for no-one to hear.

Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Coyote,

My Dad & Step-Dad both served in the Korean Conflict ... Their time there, their deeds done in order to survive to come home, haunted them both for the remainder of their days upon this Earth ... There is no Glory to be had, held, or found in waging War, butchering you fellow man who desperately wishes to live every bit as badly as do you ...

I do feel the inner pain written betwixt every word of every line of this very personal piece of your heart set to pen of page ... Thank you, kindly, for sharing ...

Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Marvin. No-one win in war my friend. We just kill the kindness of young men and young women.

[Linda Stinson Wells]

I hear you Coyote. My heart goes out to you. You have written a very heart felt poem here. It brought tears to my eyes. So touching. Please don't follow his path. You can be better than that. Honor his wishes and break that curse that is upon you. I went through a bad time of drinking. Wondering how I could ever stop. And one day I said enough is enough. You know what I did? I went to the park that had swings. And i would just swing and swing and swing. I would get to swinging so high, that I couldn't get no higher. It also gives you a little rush. Then I would just rest and think about the things for the future, not the past. Once I slowed down to almost a stop. I would start swinging again. Sometimes I would ponder on the days when kids could go to the park without parents. Now they have to have a grown up. Lovers with their arms around each other. Wondering how long that you take to diminish. But most of all I thought about me and what the future would hold. I must say that I don't drink anymore, I don't do drugs anymore, don't smoke weed either and I thought I would be smoking that all of my life. I do have a cigarette habit but now I am working on it. I sure could save a lot of money. May I ask, "how old are your children?" I did not watch the video, I was afraid it truly would depress me. Maybe another time. Thinking of you.
Linda

[Coyote Poetry]

Now dear Linda, I have five grandchildren. My four children are doing well and I watch two of the boys daily while their mama work. I started drinking whiskey again last year. I drink two or three shots when my my is sleeping. Awake my mind, awake my eyes. Thank you dear Linda for reading and the comment.

[Linda Stinson Wells]

Well, you are more than welcome. You seem to have plenty of family to keep you busy. You could start up your own football team. Thinking of you.
i do have a question for you? How long does it take W/C to post a picture? I posted a pic. last week and it is still not showing. You have a great time at whatever you are doing right now. lots of love to ya my friend.

[Stella Armour]

Young men , tainted with murder on their hands through no fault of their own.
The blood can't be seen but it never washes off the soldier's conscience... there is no other salve to deaden the pain like drink..

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right dear Stella. I joined the Army in 1976. The Vietnam drank non-stop. War leaves permanent tattoos on the mind.