Etincelle  ( rewrite )

Tenatious emotions stirred by consciousness

do convey a feeling of awareness

found in a babys' eyes seeking discovery

while absorbing everything it can see

as precious knowledge is quietly stored

never for a moment bored

this resilient flash in lifes' evolution

ignites adventure in each spirits' duration

the continuing force driving existence

like a hunger inherent within lifes' presence

the spark in your reality

sustains the thirst in your humanity

thirst for knowledge during your lifes' course

while immersed in this great force

always seen in lovers' eyes clear

reflected in each others lusty stares

sustaining our strongest desires

present in the heat of romantic fires

the spark illuminates the minds' chambers

casting light on the hopes of loves' coveter

the spark can be found in morning darkness

in the mirror of your conciousness



Tapestry

Silken fibers of conscious design

woven into complex daily life

bring awareness keen and fine

of coming storms and strife

Secure within your home fortress

sheltered from bitter winds blowing

you gaze thru windows at the wilderness

while warmed by hearth embers glowing

your wildest hopes have travelled far

and like dreams transformed into marble

they stand visible like a scar

like a pale flower that somehow startles

and stimulates your senses easily

renewing life like a summer shower

warmed by sunshine appearing suddenly

to grant your spirit remarkable power

much like passion wrapped in veiled desire

to sail beyond the fading sunset

and finally quench that smoldering fire

that only new adventures beget

wanting to see what cannot be seen

wanting to feel what cannot be felt

wanting to forge dreams extreme

only to accept the fate you're dealt

Wartools

Sterno and signal flares

warm food and lights in air

In Chu-Lai there is no hope

seeing through the Starlight Scope
 

Covered in orange-red dust

claymores weighing down all of us

humidity, fungus and decay

is the order of the day
 

m-60s, m-16s, m-79 grenade launchers

m-14s, AK-47s spit out death better

shooting chickens and dogs

humping thru the paddies in dense fog
 

compress bandages not used yet

stuck in the webbing of each helmet

P-38 can openers in camo pockets

stabbing leg when chilled and wet
 

.45 cal. semi-automatic next to chest

under flak jacket worn in jest

place the Pentrite in tunnel stairs

take cover in thick wet air
 

Sin-Loi, Sin-Loi, Sin-Loi

to tunnel dwellers and their deadly toys
 

white phosphorous grenades

chatter of the PRC-25 radio in the shade

warning of Toe Poppers

and Bouncing Betties are in order

     hang around and clean your guns

scattered tubes of LSA oil under the fading sun

fire off some RPGs in the misty shade

touch off CS tear gas grenades

anything to lighten the load

for next days hump in jungles' verdant folds
 

settle down with a meal of C's 

and feel how good life can be

then, use your trenching tool

part the jungle floor still cool

cover yourself with quilted poncho

and forget the world you used to know

Patio Light (rewrite)

Lonely moth on sultry night

somewhat erratic in flight

quietly wanders to and fro

bouncing on night breezes' warm flow

it seeks the brilliance in the night

fluttering with determined might

drawn irresistibly to the brightness

to not land but play in its' warmness

suddenly many more fill the air

as they flit about without care

noticing not the resident spider

lurking on edge of lights' fire

with silky net thin and strong

ready for a victim to come along

the drama of life and death

continues and no one frets

tiny moths bathed in warm light

living moments comforting and bright

their instant of time carefree

enjoying the brightness they see

then, the silky net snags and tightens

ending their aimless flitting realism

and with their last flicker of life

they bask in the golden eternal light



Train of Thought

Thoughts that fly on gossamer wings

high above normal life and everything

thoughts of distress and difficulty

tempered by humor and allegory

thoughts that surface from memorys' depth

brought up as legends in mind inept

thoughts of war and medieval knights

in suffocating armor during their fights

thoughts of battles more proper

with naked blue men as fearless warriors

with only spear and shields

running and screaming on battlefield

thoughts recalling berserk Celtics

in Scotlands' highland of the Picts

thoughts of Roman legions in retreat

seeing naked soldiers in bare feet

thoughts that create tension without intent

on dreary life and normal events

thoughts of tenderness and neurotic formality

seeking to discover the future to be

All blended with second thoughts as well

resurrecting stories that ring a bell

thoughts of visions spiritual

of prophetic license in life literal

thoughts of achievements that can be owned

On clean paper written in stone

Memorial Day Prism...revision #3

Memorial Day Prism

Surrounded by torn and broken walls

some slight and others tall

I looked around and stole a glance

rubbing my eyes as the sun slowly danced

In the distance muffled sounds arose

rumbling through the earth to my bare toes

curiously the dawn seemed lovely

even as life faded far away

Palm trees and bushes cast their shadows

on eternal sleep as the sun rose

Living through fear and sadly puzzled

my human dignity and speech muzzled

Flashes of reality danced all around

in the sordid shade of horror found

as thunder rolled far and near

captured by the prism of my ear

and now with everything exposed in light

with disturbing reality at fever height
I trekked along on the muddy path

as we awaited the snipers' wrath

The fulfillment of patriotic duty

I saw through the prism of futility
as we wallowed in the jungle steamy
and awaited our destiny