proud of my draft card

proud of my draft card

 

 

half a man

came back from nam

 

the mine blew his leg

now the other must beg

 

for help with movement

when the mind was slowed by a bullet

to the point of no return

 

torn soldiers

toy soldiers

jigsaw puzzle man

back from nam

 

feeling a draft

from where his brain used to sit

now an open window

 

into the few thoughts he has left

that make sense.

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/6/23

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

I continue to be grateful for the finger of fate that directed me to enlist in a reserve unit when Vietnam was still a small war and Sam wasn't drafting 18 year olds to go there. Many were not so fortunate and ended up dead or in the shape of the guy described in this work. And still wars continue. As the old 60''s ballad asked, when will they ever learn?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"where have all the flowers gone?" "long time passing"
I am glad you did what you did and avoided going there...I was lucky as well.
j.

[Sami Khalil]

Truth and compassion ooze from this marvelous, piece of history poem. It is a reminder of the hefty prices of war: Physical, emotional and spiritual. The damage is done to all sides concerned.
Soldiers lost so much and the arms industry made billions.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Sami,
j.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome sir Jacob.

[FGFRANKLIN]

I don't know any Vietnam veterans who "wanted" to go to Vietnam and I know seven of them personally. But they went because they had no other choice except to run away to Canada to dodge the draft. And none of them I know claim to be "heroes" although they were all actively deployed in combat. I know one Marine and six regular Army soldiers. Two of the Army veterans are my brother and brother-in-law. The rest are all very close friends who've all opened up to me about their combat experiences. When they came home after doing their unwilling military "duty" for their country people booed them, spat on them and called them "baby killers". My brother served as a combat medic who saved countless American lives and more than a few Vietnamese children and adults during his service. I can't tell you how much he enjoyed his welcome home. He resigned and spent the next twenty years in service. He's a good man but he doesn't have very much nice to say about his "government".

[jacob erin-cilberto]

these days, not much kind to say.
I knew a few who went to Canada....and some friends who came back from Nam different...just different.
thank you, Fabian,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

A great reminder of who must pay the price of the arrogance of old rich men. And dissenters get Kent State.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

When Kent State happened we had riots at SIU that forced a shut down of the school with 3 weeks left in the semester...a very turbulent time, indeed.
thank you, Winston,
j.

[Relic]

Ilike the sarcastic title. And they didn't just suffer physically but mentally from memories and what people referred to them as. I believe many of them call nam the place that god forgot...or something to that effect. And they went for nothing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it would seem that it was the place God forgot...but we won't ever...nor forget those who tragically gave their lives for what?

[AYVID N]

Man and nam! I loved the play of words! What a picture you create of the broken soldiers of Nam!. A stunning poem and one that made me wonder if they're well taken care of. They're left with so little of themselves, physically and mentally.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, so little of themselves...just ain't fair.
thank you, divya,
j.

[AYVID N]

You're most welcome, dear Jacob.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear J I read this fifteen minutes ago, left to absorb my thoughts and came back to reread. This piece is so powerful, it literally has tears running from my eyes. You could write a book about this poem, but all that I want to say here is that the way vets are treated is often disgusting. To think that they are left horribly maimed and forced to beg is beyond my comprehension. We have the same on this side of the pond our vets left on the streets while we house illegal immigrants in four star hotels. What sort of crackpot government does that? Yes ours. Ace writing from you dear J.

Have a happy Easter my friend, on a much lighter note.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Chris...the war away and the war back home....their fight is endless.
and Happy Easter to you, as well.
j.