Haiku My Heart Fridays, July 9, 2010

Haiku My Heart Fridays is a creation by Rebecca, who pens the recuerdo mi corozon blog. Here are the guidelines to participate. Some beautiful discoveries here, check them out.




First day Vietnam

Contemplating my future

Will I make it home?







Smiling all the time

Putting my best foot forward

Waiting to come home









Back in the world

In the neighborhood driving

Guess I made it home





I took some liberty with todays Haiku My Heart Friday posting. I wrote a short series of three Haiku, and placed a photo for each. The first photo was taken within a few hours after I arrived in Vietnam, on February 20th of 1969, the start of the Tet offensive. I wondered what the year would be like, especially arriving at such a volatile time during the year. The Tet offensive was notorious for increased attacks against our positions. I wondered if it would ever end, or if I’d die in battle. I didn’t. I made it home and have walked a line of Peace ever since. My only regret is that I didn’t have the courage to lay down my rifle and go to Leavenworth prison for 20 years. Instead, I stayed and did societies bidding, then returned home to another hell, living with the scars of battle, death, destruction and blood on my hands.

The next shot was taken at some random time during the year I spent there as an Army Sergeant in the American war in Vietnam, and the third was a month after I returned home.

While I served there in this strange land doing these strange things, I dreamed of going home constantly. I kept positive. These thoughts were gifts from The Creator, for without them, I surely would have died. I kept on seeing home. I worked hard to save the lives of my Brothers and keep myself alive.

I bought a new Plymouth Barracuda Gran Sport with a rockin’ big motor when I returned to what we Vietnam Vets called, "The World". I used to laugh at how I was dressed when I would pull this old picture out and look at it, but then in those days, that was the style. I met Mrs. Spadoman shortly after, (maybe how cool I dressed worked, eh?), and lost my license for too many speeding tickets. Mrs. Spadoman used the muscle car to commute to high school the last couple of months as I carpooled to work with a guy. I couldn’t drive with a suspended license.

All this is a part of me. It has made me who I am. I don’t want to forget anymore as I understand why it happened to me. It happened so I can tell you and all who will listen and hear that war is not the answer. Peace and forgiveness will set you free.

I hope dear friend Rebecca doesn't mind that I made up my own arrangement today. Just felt compelled to mention these things in this way, with explanations and such. Thank you Rebecca and thank the rest of you for reading and listening.

Pax Vobiscum