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In The Still Of The Night.
Contributed by
pete
on
Sunday, 11th April 2004 @ 06:16:28 PM in AEST
Topic:
InspirationalPoems
|
IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT(Peter Sprenkeler)
Always found it curiousthe withdrawn returned soldier,
Seldom speaking of heroism and deeds so bold.
In particular the Vietnam Veteranthey remain silent,
Yet their remarkable story is rarely accurately told.
A unique conflict of grim and often close contact,
Eyeball to eyeball fighting so often the case.
Fighting not only the enemybut also appalling conditions,
Death lurking everywhereeach and every pace.
The close hand horror these soldiers experienced,
Surely must have taken a huge emotional toll.
It is little wonderthese people are aloof and reserved,
Still in shockare their scarred and blood spattered souls.
Side by sidecovered in the blood of friend and enemy alike,
Never knowing from which direction the bullet would arrive.
Even the enemy was indistinctwere they soldier or civilian,
A confusing conflict...the only certainty they may not survive.
I once heard it said of these soldiersin the still of the night
They will always hear the screams.
Surely this has had an effect on their very humanity,
Remaining painful and vivid in their peacetime dreams.
These men experienced horrorsunique in warfare,
And have difficulty when society of their feelings does demand.
It is not that they wont talkit is just that they cant talk,
For few of them many years oncan even begin to understand.
So they remain aloofit is only to ex-vets they will confide,
For it is only these war-buddies who know how they feel.
We have not had their experiencewe are unqualified,
The horror of their painfrom us they gallantly conceal.
In war they endured the nightmareand fought with heroism,
But now in peacetime with a new enemy they must deal.
Relentless and even in sleepin the still of the night,
The battered remnants of their soulsthis new enemy tries to steal.
Copyright ©
pete
... [
2004-04-11 18:16:28]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: In The Still Of The Night.
(User Rating: 1 )
by Stitch on
Sunday, 11th April 2004 @ 07:19:41 PM AEST
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I have found the same to be true of many WW2 vets. I guess what they experienced is just too awful. An interesting perspective that I don't think gets enough attention. Bravo!
Stitch |
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