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This Is A Place Of Rememberance

A Little Rain...Today

The road was dark, and dawn made it grey. I seen a little rain today. Saw a man dyin, and the sheen of tears in his eyes, ......dark lonely eyes, in mine. ....and his hand reachin toward me. I seen a little rain today. We all broke down and cried, when he gasped, ...and died away. I seen a little rain....today! The children held their Mother ....close, and all the tears fell, Raining. Raining tears! ........... I saw the Nam, ...the most. The Nam! I seen a little rain today. CAL ©July 31 03 LJKlaiber

Who Shares My Journey?

 

Who accompanied me on this long journey through life?

Theyre legion; some have walked with me for only a day

before slipping off to become part of yesterdays memories,

while others remain who were witnesses to my first steps

on this road. Theyve watched me triumph and fail, helped

me up when I fell, encouraged me when I tried to turn back

in doubt. Others have placed obstacles in my way, jeered

when I hesitated, applauded when I stumbled and rejoiced

when I wandered off down some interesting side road that

ultimately led to nowhere. But someone always appeared

who knew a route back to the main road and showed the way. 

And there was always much to be learned on those detours.

Every now and then, it was I who showed someone the way

back to their own route. There is a lot of joy and satisfaction

in being such a guide. But always, I had to return to my own

path.  Now, some tell me that I have reached a point in lifes 

odyssey when I should ease into the rest area on the side of 

the road and linger there while I look back down that long, 

long highway and contemplate the twists and turns, the 

elevations and the low points. I think not; my shoes still have 

sturdy soles, and a little brushing can still bring out the luster 

of the leather. Like Frost, I will only pause for a little while. I,

too, have promises to keep, and hopefully, many more miles 

to go before I sleep. And theres still a song or two that I have

not sung. There is joy in life, and celebrations yet to be found.

I look forward to discovering what lies around the next bend, or 

on the far side of that mountain there in the distance. And, of

course, seeing who will appear to accompany me on this part 

of the journey.

 

© 8/1/2003 Thurman P. Woodfork

Nutin Aint Worth Nutin Anymore

Yup, I recollect sitting on ah log fishin

Ole cane pole n a strang frum the tater sack ravelins.

Them ole catfish are sur nuff hard to catch alright

Ifn yoall had a good bait, liken maybe a wad of doe, been spit on with baccer juice.

Now days folks go to them city stores, buy them city catfish.

Them there fish never even been in da mud.

Shucks, dem ole fish dont smell liken nutin from the crick

Dang nabit Nutin Aint Worth Nutin Anymore.

When weun kids sandered off to skool never wore no shoes til furst sno

Pappy, said them shoes were fer keepn your feet warm, not fer shown off

Mammy, wuz always the furst to tell Pappy, now Paw, them youngun need sum shoes

Men Pappy wud go on down to the pig pen and head usn up a hog.

Pappy wud take that hog down to town and trade with them city folks

Then hed bring them shoes back, always remember them shoes

Hard leather sides and hard leather soles, havto soak em in brine water to sofn em up.

Pappy wud take some hog lard and smear them shoes up reel good, let me tell ya they would shine.

When I got older I went off to the United States Army

Proud day it wus, got me two dollars for eating and rode me a bus to Nashville

Heck aint never been no where liken that bfer

They herded us in a big ole building and made us strip, now I aint to comfy with that.

This here guy came by in a white coat, heck its summer,

He said "Boy, bend over and spread em"

I looked him right in the eye and said "Huh?"

He said "Look over thar at that boy."

Let me tell ya I almost left that there place

This here boy had bended over at the stomache and had his hands behind him

Pulling on his, well cause Im a gentlmun, pullin on his rear

"Dang," I said "you can see way, oh my God"

Well that there guy looked at me and said "Well?"

I said "Well whut?" "I aint going do that, no dang way",

So then this big ole guy with MP on him came over and I found out Iz gonna do that.

Anyways I passed, didnt know they wus giving a test.

Well sir, I got myself a new set o cloths not one but three sets

Got me two par of boots, man they treat you good in here.

Shucks, I set myself down and wrote my cousin

Told him he better let em show him about bending over cause for all them new cloths it sur nuf worth it.

Just wanted to let uns know how I got myself in that there Army

Now let me tell ya, they want ya to bend over, but no body snuck up hind me.

Lest wise that I knew of. Now there was this one smart alec, tol me turn my haid and coff,

Well I started and he grabbed me, I aint gonna say whur.

I hit him so hard that I dont thank hell do that again

They said hes supposed to do that, Well aint nobody, on male man anyway, gonna grab me thar

So Ill leave ya with this here last thang, ifn you need cloths thats the place

But ya dont half ta let no body grab you by your, well you all know.

So I can say with all them thangs going on

The thangs they want usn to do

Dont take nutin from em

cause Nutin Aint Worth Nutin Anymore.

©David R. Alexander

August 1, 2003

All Rights Reserved

Where Is Home...Anymore

He told the Cab driver to stop
here
at the place where the red dirt began
about a mile or so from home.

....and the sky was so blue
that birds were like fish
swimming in the sky,

and he just needed to take this walk
toward home
alone.

Ol' Ben saw him walking with a bag on his shoulder
and he took his hat
an placed it over his heart
.. as the soldier waved and doffed his cap
in return.

Ben cried silently and stood watchin.
Some things make a man cry in this world.

Gracie saw him from the window of her heart
and she ran out and found him in her tears.

'OH! Thank you God..ThankYou God'
is what the soldier heard.

Gracie died just recently
as the old soldier held her in his arms.

He remembers those days
long ago
and coming home....

...and he wonders,
where?
oh where has it gone.

CALIBER
©Aug12003
LJKlaiber

The Old Place

In The Month Of Remember

We walk through tall weeds
toward the old places
of damp and rotting timber
fallen
into the strange agony
of old buildings
collapsed.

Nails pointing like fingers.
Smells of decay.

We stir old memory within ourselves.
The vision of what it was.

... sounds of chickens,
rusty hinges,
rain on the roof.

A dark moaning wind.

CAL
LJKlaiber
©8/6/03

A heavy helmet "goddamn hot" walk "stinkin' sweaty" through "can't ffn see!" the triple canopy "shutup!...dammitt!" never quiet "Whats that?" except before "sshhhhhhhhhhhhh" death. "i don't like it!" Sunlight flickering "look around" like raindrops " EZ now!" from the leaves. "It's too damn quiet" Soft warble tones "Its too damn quiet!" mark each step "Wait!" toward contact "Watch It!...DOWNNNN" that comes quickly, "DDOWWWWWWWWWWNN! crracckk...ccrracccccckk "DAMN!" crraccck "DAMMNNN! Another day in the "NAM!" CAL 3rd edit 2003

Omaha Beach

I stand before greatness
...a witness to faithfulness
A picture of Omaha beach...
crosses as far as the eye can reach
...Hands helpless at my side
...on my face tears of pride...
for these brave soldiers...
who challeged Hitler`s Mob...
and etched their names in history
....by simply doing their job

(Not far down the road...
many French people grumble... and dance
Why do they not remember... the blood of Heroes
...that bought the freedom of France...)

©8/8/2003

Faye Sizemore

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