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"This War" The nightmares took their toll on me
Again last night, sending me back in time
To a place I'd rather forget
But I can't, seems it's always on my mind
"That War" so long ago should be gone
But I ain't left it behind
'Cause each day and night, I fight "This War"
Of emotions, feelings and memories in my mind
Last night like all the other nights
"This War" took over my mind and soul
And threw me back into "That War"
A place as close to Hell I know
But I'll never surrender even though
I know, I'll never win
I'll just grit my teeth and bear it
And live another day to fight again
And "This War" that I'm fighting
I know, I'm never gonna win
'Cause "This War" that I'm fighting
I'll never live to see it end
But when my friends come and see me
All dressed in black they'll gather 'round
And they'll say "This War" is over
When they lay me in the ground
I see the faces of my buddies
With that 1000 meter stare in their eyes
Staring out into the darkness
Or beyond, and always wondering why
Questions without answers
Pleas and screams that no one ever hears
"This War" just like "That War"
We'll fight for many, many years
And "This War" that I'm fighting
I know, I'm never gonna win
'Cause "This War" that I'm fighting
I'll never live to see the end
But when my friends come and see me
All dressed in black they'll gather 'round
And they'll say "This War" is over
When they lay me in the ground
Loyde
P. "Snake" Arender
February 15, 2000
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Permission was granted to read this
poem at the funeral services for
Nolan Hutchings, killed in
action 3/23/03 in Iraq.
Think of Me
You know you can not bring me back
You know that I am gone
I walk the streets of heaven now
It's my eternal home
But think of me now and then
Just as you do today
Remember that I died for you
So America could stay
A land where men are equal
A land where men are free
A land I lived and died for
When you think of Freedom
Think of me
#
Written by Loyde P.
"Snake" Arender on May 25, 1988
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Crying In The Rain
I come to The Wall
All Alone
To see my friends
They say are gone
I see my reflection
I feel the pain
And with my buddies
I do my crying
In the rain
Very few
Really understand
Even fewer
Want to lend a hand
But The Wall
Seems to ease the pain
And with my buddies
I do my crying
In the rain
My buddies are here
I know
I can feel
Their presence close
We help each other
'Cause we share the pain
And being together
We do our crying
In the rain
No one can see
The tears I cry
The raindrops hide
The way I feel inside
So I survive
By hiding the pain
And with my buddies
I do my crying
In the rain
Written by Loyde P. "Snake"
Arender
* * * * * * * * * * * *
THE POINT MAN
The "Point Man" stopped
dead in his tracks;
he had spotted something on the trail.
The expression on his face
as he looked back,
conveyed disappointment and disgust as well.
The patrol column halted.
As I walked to the front
to see what the "Point Man" had seen
and there beside the trail
lay what was left of a Grunt;
a disfigured and lifeless Marine.
The tracks, the drag marks
and the shell casings nearby,
told a story of a Marine brave and true.
He had fought courageously
until only moments before he died.
Shot numerous times, shot almost in two.
His hands had been gently folded
across his bloody mutilated chest.
Had someone knelt by his side?
Had the enemy soldiers
seen a warrior at his best;
a Marine who had lost but had tried?
I contacted headquarters
making a med-evac request.
This Marine was to be on his way home.
And as I stared at his hands folded on his chest...
I wondered if he had really died alone
Loyde
P. "Snake" Arender
©May 16, 2000
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Dedicated to
To the many fine officers
who led us through the Hell... that was..
South Vietnam
***********
COMBAT CLICHÉS
There is a cliche ... I'm sure you've heard
And I know it well ... Word for word
The cliche's simple ... There's no denying
Sometimes one must laugh ... To keep from crying
But I can not laugh ... Because it ain't funny
And I refuse to cry ... For love nor money
So I sit alone ... My thoughts and I
Unable to laugh ... And refusing to cry
I ponder my thoughts ... And the horrors I've seen
Fully aware ... I'm somewhere between
The laughter of youth ... Long since gone
And tears of the tormented ... As they anguish alone
I am forever shattered ... War has taken its toll
On my body ... My mind and soul
Thoughts of combat ... Dwell on my mind
But I only speak rarely ... From time to time
And when I speak ... I do not forget
To only speak to ... Another combat vet
For only they ... Truly understand
And only they ... Can lend a hand
We suffer together ... I know they care
They know the cliche ... Since they were there
Two other cliches ... They also know well
"Freedom ain't Free" ... and "War is Hell"
Written by Loyde P. "Snake"
Arender
July 14, 1999
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Semper - Fi Heart
Some may wear the uniform
And even look the part
But to truly be a real Marine
You must have a "Semper-Fi Heart"
This "Heart" is not "Earned in Boot
camp"
But is "Developed along the Way"
And it "Grows" because of
"Dedication"
Through "Service" each and every day
"Semper" is Latin for "Always"
"Fidelis" means "Faithful" and
"True"
"Faithful" when things don't go your way
And "Faithful" when they do
You may not understand the rationale
Nor even know the reason why
But the "Mission" will be
"Accomplished"
When your "Heart" is "Semper-Fi"
Written by, PFC Loyde P.
"Snake" Arender 2454394 USMC
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View Snake's
Vietnam photo album
Loyde Arender's bio
More of Snake's poems may be found at the
International War
Veterans' Poetry Archives
Return to Vietnam Poetry Page
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