Last Tattoo

Gate to Seoul

When the battle is over
When the mission is done
When the tour has ended
With the casing of the guns

When the bugle plays the last note
A soldier’s mind begins to roam
To the things missed on the mission
Hearth, Homeland, Family, and Home

While the time afield was passing
Living, dying, victory, pain
So too back home was changing
Growing, dying, so much loss and gain

From the monotony of the battlefield
Days of boredom, moments of strife
To the monotony of normality
Daily living the family life

The soldier holds two worlds in balance
Both of duty, and of station
Committed fully to both causes
Love of family and of nation

Eventually every watch is over
And every deployment ends
Then a fading old soldier and family
Find time and place where life begins

Long Thoughts

The Dead
Unbury
Long
Thoughts,

Halted
By Heat,
Key Ships’
Lightening
Flashed-

 

Guns
Intrude
Staccato
Thunder-
Drums

 

Missing
Com
Pass
Ion
Killed

 

Sea
Lost
Limbs
Flagged
Pole-dyes

Stripes,
Soldiers
& Stars
Beat Blue
Scar White,
& Blood Red.

Going up

Endless Road

I don’t accept

The notion of coincidence

Yet I’m told to write

This elevator speech

About how we will

Lift you up

And help you find

Your audience.