Would I live?
A soldier lays gravely wounded. He prays to God to live.17 total reviews
Comment from ESOSTINE
The poem was a near miss fatal experience of a war veteran. It is an appreciation of God's saving love and mercy when hope is lost. I am glad for the life to tell the story around loving and proud family and grandchildren. Well done, dear Richy.
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The poem was a near miss fatal experience of a war veteran. It is an appreciation of God's saving love and mercy when hope is lost. I am glad for the life to tell the story around loving and proud family and grandchildren. Well done, dear Richy.
Comment Written 18-Oct-2024
Comment from Kahlani
I literally got chills reading this. I had to know the outcome of your story. I sighed with relief when God blessed you with more time on this earth. He even blessed you with grandchildren. Beautiful poem.
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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I literally got chills reading this. I had to know the outcome of your story. I sighed with relief when God blessed you with more time on this earth. He even blessed you with grandchildren. Beautiful poem.
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Thank you so much. I normally write short stories. My grandfather and mother were both excellent poets. I will never be at their level, but I know their happy I tried.
Comment from artisart4u
That is so nice to read, soldiers are humans and they have feelings too. Faith, will get you through. I am glad it turned out that the soldier was able to live and be loved by his grandchildren, family, and friends. A soldier is a brave soul and one to respect.
Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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That is so nice to read, soldiers are humans and they have feelings too. Faith, will get you through. I am glad it turned out that the soldier was able to live and be loved by his grandchildren, family, and friends. A soldier is a brave soul and one to respect.
Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Thank you so much. Normally I write short stories. I have always thought anyone can write a story, but it takes someone special to write poetry. My grandfather and mother were great poets. I will never be at their level. Although, I am sure they are happy I tried.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Did this really happen to you? If it did then I am glad you survived and came home safely. If not, then this is a tribute to all those who have suffered fear of dying in war and those who have died, as we owe them so much, a poignant post, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Did this really happen to you? If it did then I am glad you survived and came home safely. If not, then this is a tribute to all those who have suffered fear of dying in war and those who have died, as we owe them so much, a poignant post, love Dolly x
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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First, thank you for reading my piece. No the story is not about me. It is a friend of mine. He overcame the war and led a happy life. His grandchildren love their "Papa."
Comment from DonandVicki
I served in Vietnam and can relate to your story/ Poem. I wasn't wounded but I have known many that were and those that did not make it. A well written poem that brings back memories.
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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I served in Vietnam and can relate to your story/ Poem. I wasn't wounded but I have known many that were and those that did not make it. A well written poem that brings back memories.
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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First, thank you for your service. My ties to Vietnam veterans are strong. I graduated in 1972. A couple of years too late. Although, my mother was happy. My two older brothers served in Vietnam. Don, the oldest, was a Navy Seabee and in Vietnam 1965-1966. John, my middle brother, was with the 5th/7th 1st Cavalry "Air Mobile." 1968-1969. Added to that, I worked with many Vietnam veterans. A few years before covid, John asked me to go with him to a reunion in Washington D.C. It was a humbling experience for me. I was surrounded by a room full of heroes. While I was there, I spoke with John's lieutenant, Mike Sprayberry a Medal of Honor winner. He told me John was an excellent soldier and I should be very proud of him. I have always been proud of John. He had a rough time after Vietnam. Thank God his Cav brothers saved him. If you have time, I have written several stories about Vietnam veterans. Each story I pray does my brothers, the others, and men like you, justice.
However, the last thing I want to do is bring up memories. So please read them only if it will not affect you. Thank you again Don, for your service.
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I only have good memories of my past. The not so good memories have started to fade. Thank you, Don.
Comment from zanya
This poem makes a convincing statement on a number of fronts but most especially about prayer and also about war, both powerful forces in our lives - wish I had 6 stars for this one. Has my vote.
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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This poem makes a convincing statement on a number of fronts but most especially about prayer and also about war, both powerful forces in our lives - wish I had 6 stars for this one. Has my vote.
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Thank you for your kind words. Poetry is not my strong point. I write short stories. My grandfather and mother were true poets. I could never be as good as them. However, I know they are proud of me.
A six star is always nice. But a review such as yours means just as much if not more. Thank you again for reading my piece.
Comment from karenina
Vietnam was the war of my generation. I have far too many friends whose names are etched on "The Wall" and as I read this, I felt the sorrow and loss of every one of them. You've sprinkled some rhyme, which is perfectly fine in a free verse poem... and added some alliteration with, for example: The "G" in "grateful to God for giving me one more day.
I am alive to hear the sweetest words any man can hear. "That's our granddaddy."
Bless those who came home, albeit to a frequently hostile environment. War truly is hell. It's a shame those veterans experienced the animus of a torn society.
I see "granddaddy" Vets today and go out of my way to thank them for their service!
Thank you for sharing.
Karenina
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Vietnam was the war of my generation. I have far too many friends whose names are etched on "The Wall" and as I read this, I felt the sorrow and loss of every one of them. You've sprinkled some rhyme, which is perfectly fine in a free verse poem... and added some alliteration with, for example: The "G" in "grateful to God for giving me one more day.
I am alive to hear the sweetest words any man can hear. "That's our granddaddy."
Bless those who came home, albeit to a frequently hostile environment. War truly is hell. It's a shame those veterans experienced the animus of a torn society.
I see "granddaddy" Vets today and go out of my way to thank them for their service!
Thank you for sharing.
Karenina
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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I am to in the same generation. Vietnam veterans hold a special place in my heart. First my oldest brother was a Navy Seabee in Vietnam from 1965-1966. Then my middle brother was in the 1st Cavalry Division from 1968-1969. I graduated in 1972, so I missed going. My mother was happy. I don't think she could have taken another son, another year of hell.
Plus, I worked with many Vietnam veterans.
My middle brother was not physically wounded. His was a mental wound. That war cost him a life. He drank to hide his nighmares. Thank God fifteen years ago his Cav brothers met with him and convinced him to go to the VA for treatment. They saved his life. I love to tell people. I have the brother I knew before Vietnam back.
If you look at my writings you will see a lot of stories about Vietnam. All are based on my middle brother, his comrades or those vets I worked with.
I can only hope those stories do those men a justice they deserve.
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As an RN I worked for a year at the VA hospital, on the licked ward for Vietnam vets who never recovered from their PTSD...
God bless you for writing about your brothers, and all our Vets!
I'm off to fan you!
Comment from Begin Again
Every man or woman who steps up and places their life on the line for our country and for every one of us deserves to be known as a hero and be always treated with respect and honor. Your poem says it all...how they hoped they would come home alive but never knew where that stray bullet was coming from. Thank you for sharing.
Smiles and hugs, Carol
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Every man or woman who steps up and places their life on the line for our country and for every one of us deserves to be known as a hero and be always treated with respect and honor. Your poem says it all...how they hoped they would come home alive but never knew where that stray bullet was coming from. Thank you for sharing.
Smiles and hugs, Carol
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Carol, thank you so much. I have a strong tie with Vietnam veterans. My oldest brother was a Navy Seabee in Vietnam from 1965-1966. My middle brother was with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam from 1968-1969. I graduated in 1972, so I missed going. My mother was grateful. A third son in Vietnam may have killed her.
A lot of my writings are about Vietnam veterans. In some way I hope I am telling their stories so people get some idea of the hell they went through during the war and the hell after they came home. I encourage you to read some of them. That makes me feel I am doing something good for them.
Comment from Nicki.B
I love this poem, it's written beautifully and you took us through the story so well. It's wonderful how faith and trust in God is what helped keep this veteran alive. And the happy ending of being able to live gratefully each day to tell the tale of survival. Well done.
Best Wishes
Nicki
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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I love this poem, it's written beautifully and you took us through the story so well. It's wonderful how faith and trust in God is what helped keep this veteran alive. And the happy ending of being able to live gratefully each day to tell the tale of survival. Well done.
Best Wishes
Nicki
Comment Written 17-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 17-Oct-2024
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Thank you so much Nicki. Vietnam veterans are close to my heart. I had two brothers that served in Vietnam, plus I worked with many Vietname veterans. They went though hell in Vietnam and hell back here. If you ever looked at my writings you will see several stories about veterans. I wrote those for people to see what they went though. Especially my brother in the 1st Cav.
Comment from moonsunrise
The power of prayer is so vital when one is hopeless in such a horrific, frightening battlefield. The fear and anguish experienced by the soldier along with the visual of his loved one's face filled with worry upon his leaving to go to war.
Reading your poem brought back memories of two series I watched, "The Pacific" and Band of Brothers", both heart wrenching but what love most soldiers felt for their brothers.
Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2024
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The power of prayer is so vital when one is hopeless in such a horrific, frightening battlefield. The fear and anguish experienced by the soldier along with the visual of his loved one's face filled with worry upon his leaving to go to war.
Reading your poem brought back memories of two series I watched, "The Pacific" and Band of Brothers", both heart wrenching but what love most soldiers felt for their brothers.
Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 15-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2024
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Prayer has been an important part of my life. Praying has gotten me through some tough times in my life.
I come from a military family. Service to the country was important. I encourage you to read some of my stories. Out of love for my two brothers I have written several stories of their courage and sacrifice. Thank you for the very kind review.
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I will read them. Thank you