home
This is from an old post but I think it is worth sharing again.
Life throws you to unexpected and strange places, but you will always come home.
photo by dsnake1
home
what can be seen then
when we have returned
our arms for the night
our backs against
the weathered boards
of our barracks
as we slowly savoured
every wisp of
cigarette smoke
(and some had more
than just tobacco)
our fatigues unbuttoned
boots unlaced,
removed
as we flicked butts
towards the perimeter fence
towards the concertina
razors
that are protecting us
keeping us in
what can be seen then
an evening sky
blushing red
the colour of
muzzle flashes
red tracers
clouds stretched thin
like oily gunsmoke
and a scimitar moon
unsheathing
and then
through the thousands
of kilometres
the faces of
girl friends
wives
& children
waiting
for their loves
to return
home.
23/09/2012
**********
Tracy Chapman - Stand By Me
© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2019
Life throws you to unexpected and strange places, but you will always come home.
home
what can be seen then
when we have returned
our arms for the night
our backs against
the weathered boards
of our barracks
as we slowly savoured
every wisp of
cigarette smoke
(and some had more
than just tobacco)
our fatigues unbuttoned
boots unlaced,
removed
as we flicked butts
towards the perimeter fence
towards the concertina
razors
that are protecting us
keeping us in
what can be seen then
an evening sky
blushing red
the colour of
muzzle flashes
red tracers
clouds stretched thin
like oily gunsmoke
and a scimitar moon
unsheathing
and then
through the thousands
of kilometres
the faces of
girl friends
wives
& children
waiting
for their loves
to return
home.
23/09/2012
**********
Tracy Chapman - Stand By Me
© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2019
Labels: 70's, family, fatigue, military, Singapore, thoughts
posted by dsnake1 at 10:21 PM
15 Comments:
this was so true to its literal sense: this is about military men or any kind of men who are away from their homes, who are somewhere in the night with either booze or what as their companion instead of their loving families. i think of my relative when i was reading this. thanks for sharing it.
This takes me to the camps of tired soldiers who have seen too much - their families waiting anxiously far away, worried for their safety. Awesome write, Lee San.
The fatigue in the poem matches the image, although I assume it's a slightly different flavor of homesickness. Vivid, the over-stimulation of exhaustion perfectly captured.
This really resonates with me these days when walls are in fashion again.
towards the perimeter fence
towards the concertina
razors
that are protecting us
keeping us in
That is one powerful poem. In those circumstances, I am sure that thoughts of home were always at the forefront.
our fatigues unbuttoned
I so like this image. unbuttoned, but never removed - just offset in the moment
Wonderful imagery and exploration of a feeling of home that is unique to soldiers. Very powerful.
Yes this is worth sharing again. Aging does sometimes take us back to muse on who we once were never thinking tha tone day we would be writing poetry for whole world to see.
Jamztoma,
thank you!
oh yes, not just military men, also about any kind of men who are away from their homes. :)
Sherry,
i think the connections will always be there.
Chrissa,
one of the denominators of serving overseas is the fatigue after a working day, and the camaraderie. :)
Bjorn,
ah, the walls are in fashion again...
so true.
Mary,
it is always, yes. :)
Ostensible Truth,
never removed, just in case ...
thanks for the visit! :)
H.Hennenburg,
Thank you!
Robin,
no, i never expect or imagine that one day i will be writing poetry for the whole world to see. :)
I seem to remember reading this one before, and liking its authentic flavour then as I do now. You have such a delicate yet sure touch, conveying so much in these simple words and brief details.
Thank you, Rosemary!
This was published in 2012, before I discovered Poets United. Probably you read it browsing the old posts. :)
Oh, what a beauty! :-) Thanks.
Thank you, Cuban! :)
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