The Lonely Vet
A tribute to vets in 202428 total reviews
Comment from bob cullen
From one Robert to another Robert from about the same vintage. My twin brother and I were from the vintage year of '48 and Australian bred. Firstly, thank you for serving. I imagine you served in Vietnam, fortunately my brother and I missed the ballot for call-up in 1968. It was done by pulling birthdates from a barrel. August 23rd wasn't a selected date.
This is a great poem.
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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From one Robert to another Robert from about the same vintage. My twin brother and I were from the vintage year of '48 and Australian bred. Firstly, thank you for serving. I imagine you served in Vietnam, fortunately my brother and I missed the ballot for call-up in 1968. It was done by pulling birthdates from a barrel. August 23rd wasn't a selected date.
This is a great poem.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Thank you, Robert for your meaningful and personal comments. I was drafted in 1967. That was before the lottery. I appreciate your positive words about the poem. I publish a new Veterans Day poem every year. None of the others are here. I appreciate your supportive words.
Robert
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Thank you so much Bob for your six-star award. I am honored by your decision.
Z
Comment from CM Pickard
This is a great poem, it draws the reader in and I think really shows the struggle behind the returned servicemen. It's true here too that their biggest battle is re-entering the society they left behind, one that often judges them, ignores them or misunderstands them (usually all the three).
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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This is a great poem, it draws the reader in and I think really shows the struggle behind the returned servicemen. It's true here too that their biggest battle is re-entering the society they left behind, one that often judges them, ignores them or misunderstands them (usually all the three).
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Thank you for your wonderful review. The struggle certainly exists form many. The vast majority do fine but when some of them have problems, the problems are real.
Robert
Comment from judiverse
This wonderful. It's amazing how well your Cube 16 works for your serious subject matter. Your rhyme and syllable count are flawless, not strained at all. It is shocking to see that number of homeless vets. I was appalled by the way the Vietnam vets were treated, and I think we'd done better since then. For those combat vets, life has changed. They can't leave behind memories of what they encountered during the war. I hope we will not be led into another war. I see on TV commercials about organizations that are trying to provide housing for wounded vets and for families of those who lost their husbands in the war. We should never forget our vets, like the vet in your poem thinks people have forgotten him. judi
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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This wonderful. It's amazing how well your Cube 16 works for your serious subject matter. Your rhyme and syllable count are flawless, not strained at all. It is shocking to see that number of homeless vets. I was appalled by the way the Vietnam vets were treated, and I think we'd done better since then. For those combat vets, life has changed. They can't leave behind memories of what they encountered during the war. I hope we will not be led into another war. I see on TV commercials about organizations that are trying to provide housing for wounded vets and for families of those who lost their husbands in the war. We should never forget our vets, like the vet in your poem thinks people have forgotten him. judi
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hi Judi.
The ones we see on the advertisements and commercials were guys that were nothing like this when they were on active duty. Many of them have given up. I think the nonprofit and private organizations are doing more than the government to help these guys. Organizations are building them houses, putting them into apartment complexes, and getting them jobs and counseling. The worst thing a veteran can feel is that he has been forgotten, overlooked, or ignored. That's tough for those guys who have struggled since their days in the military.
One thing about cube 16 style is that you must use powerful words because you have short bursts in which you need to make them work. The words are generally a lot more active, and they have to fit into the puzzle just properly, so it sounds right when rolling off your tongue. I've tried to help a few people who want to write a problem or two and that method and that is the hardest thing to impress upon a writer.
Thank you for the great review and certainly for the six shiny stars. I am grateful to you.
Robert
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You're very welcome. I thought because of the short lines the form would work best for light-hearted topics. You've shown it can work for serious topics as well. I'm glad there is this day to honor our veterans. You're probably right about private organizations doing more to help than the government. The government, after all, has to take care of all the migrants. judi
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YEP!!!
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Yes, the US needs to do much better about taking care of their veterans. They have given us so much for us. We need to honor them. Thank your for highlighting this problem in this poem.
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Yes, the US needs to do much better about taking care of their veterans. They have given us so much for us. We need to honor them. Thank your for highlighting this problem in this poem.
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hello Barbara.
Thank you for your positive comments and understanding the plight of some of these guys. When I watched them on videos as they wander around homeless encampments, I know they were never like this before now. Some have bottomed out and their service had a great deal to do with it.
Robert
Comment from Pam (respa)
-Very nice artwork and presentation, Robert.
-Thank you for honoring our veterans.
-Your notes are appreciated.
-You wrote a good poem with effective imagery and rhyme.
-The opening verses show how a veteran can feel
when returning home.
-So many questions because his life has been changed,
and wasn't thanked for his service when returning home.
-Very good closing verses show the fears that many vets are facing.
-Hopefully, they seek help so their life can improve.
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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-Very nice artwork and presentation, Robert.
-Thank you for honoring our veterans.
-Your notes are appreciated.
-You wrote a good poem with effective imagery and rhyme.
-The opening verses show how a veteran can feel
when returning home.
-So many questions because his life has been changed,
and wasn't thanked for his service when returning home.
-Very good closing verses show the fears that many vets are facing.
-Hopefully, they seek help so their life can improve.
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hello Pam.
Thank you for your thoughtful and meaningful review and comments. I was discharged from the army in 1971 and when we returned home our commanders told us do not wear any military paraphernalia, clothing, or insignia. That was during some very difficult times in our country. I will never forget those days.
Many private organizations are doing a lot to help our homeless and distressed veterans. It's hard to watch these guys on the videos. They were not like this before.
Robert
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You are very welcome for the review, Robert. I can understand how you would never forget these times. It is a good thing veterans are getting help. More than likely in earlier years, they were told to deal with it. But hopefully there were some commanders who were different. My dad was in the Air Force so I know a little bit about his experience, but he never said too much. I think that was common in the time he served, as well. That would have been about 1940 and he served for 20 years, and 20 more in Civil Service.
Comment from Sally Law
Thank you for your military service and for this heartfelt CUBE16 poem, dear Z. It's a shame that we have so many homeless veterans who gave life and limb for us. My brother, Steve, a Green Beret Weapons Sergeant, died of Agent Orange related throat cancer as you might remember from my writing: Nobody in Vietnam and Letters From Heaven's Gateway #7. He was the best of men. He loathed Jane Fonda and her tour de Vietnam. She did much harm with her lies and video crew. Maybe if she'd actually served....
Anyway, he did not die on the streets, thankfully. He is buried in Washington State. Actor Chuck Norris graced his headstone. I'm very grateful to Mr. Norris and for folks like you that honor military service and sacrifice. Thank you, again.
Sending along my very best to you and yours,
Sal :))
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Thank you for your military service and for this heartfelt CUBE16 poem, dear Z. It's a shame that we have so many homeless veterans who gave life and limb for us. My brother, Steve, a Green Beret Weapons Sergeant, died of Agent Orange related throat cancer as you might remember from my writing: Nobody in Vietnam and Letters From Heaven's Gateway #7. He was the best of men. He loathed Jane Fonda and her tour de Vietnam. She did much harm with her lies and video crew. Maybe if she'd actually served....
Anyway, he did not die on the streets, thankfully. He is buried in Washington State. Actor Chuck Norris graced his headstone. I'm very grateful to Mr. Norris and for folks like you that honor military service and sacrifice. Thank you, again.
Sending along my very best to you and yours,
Sal :))
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hello Sal.
Thank you for your gracious review and meaningful comments. I do remember reading about your brother. I still have close friends who are being treated by the VA for Agent Orange maladies. Right now, it appears the people helping veterans the most are the nonprofits and the private organizations. They're putting the men in houses and finding them jobs. A friend of mine, who is a local Superior Court judge, has a special veterans court where he helps veterans who have gotten into a jam.
Thank you for reading and contributing I appreciate your support.
Z
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
It is so appropriate to post a poem to the poor treatment of veterans on Armistice Day, the end of the war to end all wars (which it never was of course). We have learnt nothing in a hundred years. kay. Good to see you back.
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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It is so appropriate to post a poem to the poor treatment of veterans on Armistice Day, the end of the war to end all wars (which it never was of course). We have learnt nothing in a hundred years. kay. Good to see you back.
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hi Kate.
Thank you for your positive review and meaningful comments. There are no wars to end all wars. Each war is the starting point for the next. We certainly haven't learned much. Good to see you again.
Robert
Comment from royowen
I think when we've seen things the eyes should not see, then it changes us, neither my brother who fought in Vietnam and was actually wounded, and my dad who fought in Dunkirk, France at the beginning and was discharged because bombs made him deaf, didn't seem affected, none that they mentioned anyway, but there are certainly those who, but they called it shellshock not understanding what had happened to them, now we know better, thanks for sharing this lovely poem, well done, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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I think when we've seen things the eyes should not see, then it changes us, neither my brother who fought in Vietnam and was actually wounded, and my dad who fought in Dunkirk, France at the beginning and was discharged because bombs made him deaf, didn't seem affected, none that they mentioned anyway, but there are certainly those who, but they called it shellshock not understanding what had happened to them, now we know better, thanks for sharing this lovely poem, well done, blessings Roy
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hello Roy.
What people know about war is actually very limited. Soldiers know about war, and that's why they don't want one. The end of every war is the beginning of the next one. The civil war general, William Tecumseh Sherman is the man who originated the quote, "War is Hell." That was merely a phrase from a long speech he gave about how horrible war is and what really happens. People who have not been there would be shocked. Many of the men who were there have been changed forever in this life.
Thanks for your review and for your meaningful comments.
Robert
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Well done
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
This well-crafted cube verse with pleasing meter and rhyme emphatically drives home the plight of the vet, his trauma and his sense of disconnect. The presentation is also spot-on with your stunning visual and khaki background. My only suggestion, perhaps, only because I read it first with the stress on the first syllable (but I can understand it read on the second): instead of What did he gain? - 'with absent gain?' An emotional read. Well done, Robert! Debbie
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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This well-crafted cube verse with pleasing meter and rhyme emphatically drives home the plight of the vet, his trauma and his sense of disconnect. The presentation is also spot-on with your stunning visual and khaki background. My only suggestion, perhaps, only because I read it first with the stress on the first syllable (but I can understand it read on the second): instead of What did he gain? - 'with absent gain?' An emotional read. Well done, Robert! Debbie
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hello Debbie.
Thank you so much for your thorough and positive review. In the vast majority of my Cube poems, I use iambic foot. I was a drummer in my early life, and it is drilled into my head. I will review your suggestion and consider implementing it. I appreciate your excellent words and thank you for your time. You have honored me with the six-star review.
Robert
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
This is a beautifully crafted poem, Robert. I've known men like this who return from war with visions in their head that no one, but others who have served, understands. We fight often for no clear reason; then they return and we give them nothing for "serving their country."
Thank you for your author's notes too. And I'm glad you wrote another cube poem because I've been wanting to try one. I'll write this information down so I can try myself.
If you served, thank you.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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This is a beautifully crafted poem, Robert. I've known men like this who return from war with visions in their head that no one, but others who have served, understands. We fight often for no clear reason; then they return and we give them nothing for "serving their country."
Thank you for your author's notes too. And I'm glad you wrote another cube poem because I've been wanting to try one. I'll write this information down so I can try myself.
If you served, thank you.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 11-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024
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Hello Pam.
Thank you very much for your positive and uplifting review of this poem. Some veterans have difficulty adjusting after being in war. As William Tecumseh Sherman once said, "War is Hell."
I am grateful for your review. And I did serve during Vietnam.
I would really like to see you create a cube16 poem. You have excellent word skills and that is important because you are restricted by rhyme and format, and it can be terse.
Robert