The following, poorly structured though it may be, is an attempt at poetry which I like to re-publish every Memorial Day. It is a distant and quick reflection of my first two and a half years in the army which began in September of 1969.
B. D.
Good-byes outside the Federal Building, hearts bursting with pride,
new friends, for a day or two anyway.
Where you from?
Meal tickets, cough, sign here, raise your hand, get on the bus,
a few hours to digest what happened.
Here's your bunk, here's your hat. It won't be too small tomorrow.
Lights out...lights on, get up.
Raise your left hand. The foot below that is your left foot.
Milk never tasted so good, nor liver.
Smoke'm if you got em.
Lights out, shut up. Lights on, get up.
"Hey new guy!" Eight weeks is a lot of seniority here.
March, run, push, carry, salute, stomach in, chest out.
Congratulations, pride, get on the bus.
Seven to three and turn the lights out when you want.
Boston ain't bad but a bald head would be normal today.
Home for the weekend, cab driver not impressed.
Here's your test, here's your test, here's your test.
Congratulations, another stripe, get on the bus.
Farewell party, pack light, good-bye.
White building, no windows, no news, no TV, just wait for your name, it could be a couple days.
Get on the plane.
Heat, aroma, concertina wire, dust, sun, water buffalo, silk, Pabst Blue Ribbon,
reel-to reel, abacus, burn detail, pretty Asian girls, 12 hour days...forever,
pills, mail call, piasters, conical hats, nouc mam, Mama San, number 10, dinky dow, tuk tuks,
maps, files, briefings, frequencies, "They're on the move," sleep, maps, files.
Whistle!
Bunkers, jokes, heat, siren.
Sand bags, guard duty, Asian Elvis, Buddha, kids, chocolate, Budweiser.
Whistle,
bunkers, no jokes, heat, siren.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July.
Sydney, Kings Cross, moneys gone, get on the plane.
Monsoons,
maps, files, briefings, frequencies.
Whistle,
bunkers, slop, siren.
Short-time calender, "I hear they don't like us?" Protests, daydreams, maybe college.
Whistle
B. D.
Good-byes outside the Federal Building, hearts bursting with pride,
new friends, for a day or two anyway.
Where you from?
Meal tickets, cough, sign here, raise your hand, get on the bus,
a few hours to digest what happened.
Here's your bunk, here's your hat. It won't be too small tomorrow.
Lights out...lights on, get up.
Raise your left hand. The foot below that is your left foot.
Milk never tasted so good, nor liver.
Smoke'm if you got em.
Lights out, shut up. Lights on, get up.
"Hey new guy!" Eight weeks is a lot of seniority here.
March, run, push, carry, salute, stomach in, chest out.
Congratulations, pride, get on the bus.
Seven to three and turn the lights out when you want.
Boston ain't bad but a bald head would be normal today.
Home for the weekend, cab driver not impressed.
Here's your test, here's your test, here's your test.
Congratulations, another stripe, get on the bus.
Farewell party, pack light, good-bye.
White building, no windows, no news, no TV, just wait for your name, it could be a couple days.
Get on the plane.
Heat, aroma, concertina wire, dust, sun, water buffalo, silk, Pabst Blue Ribbon,
reel-to reel, abacus, burn detail, pretty Asian girls, 12 hour days...forever,
pills, mail call, piasters, conical hats, nouc mam, Mama San, number 10, dinky dow, tuk tuks,
maps, files, briefings, frequencies, "They're on the move," sleep, maps, files.
Whistle!
Bunkers, jokes, heat, siren.
Sand bags, guard duty, Asian Elvis, Buddha, kids, chocolate, Budweiser.
Whistle,
bunkers, no jokes, heat, siren.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July.
Sydney, Kings Cross, moneys gone, get on the plane.
Monsoons,
maps, files, briefings, frequencies.
Whistle,
bunkers, slop, siren.
Short-time calender, "I hear they don't like us?" Protests, daydreams, maybe college.
Whistle
I remember you.
