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VIETNAM  WAR  POETRY
​
CARL "PAPA" PALMER 

​​                         Army Buddies

                        He starts in on one of his
                        "that reminds me of when"
                        war stories he’s repeated
                        numerous times over time
                        to us fellow retirees at his table,

                        but this particular one
                        he’s busy telling us now
                        is his third time telling today.


                        I nod, tent my hands,
                        murmur agreement,

                        anxious for him to finish
                        this oft heard story

                        which reminds me
                        of one of my stories
                        that I need to tell before I forget,
                        even if we’ve all heard it before.



                        by Contributing Poet  Carl "Papa" Palmer   Copyright © 2020 
                        VWP 2020     First published in  VietnamWarPoetry.com ​ 

​​

​​
                              ~


           

                       Out of the Kitchen 

​                                                (Haibun Poem)

Responding to my desire to learn how to throw a wicked curve ball Mom says without hesitation, "You'll just have to wait until the baby bottles finish boiling. If you're in such a big hurry you can help by taking them from the kettle." She hands me the tongs, "Put them on the counter to dry while I get Dori from her rocker and dressed to go outside."

The little league coach, Mr. Temple, praises my winning performance, says I'm his new star pitcher. "What a great curve ball, Ace. I bet your dad is really proud."

                        game ball

                        placed atop

                        folded American flag 


                        by Contributing Poet  Carl "Papa" Palmer   Copyright © 2015 
                        VWP 2015     First published in  VietnamWarPoetry.com 

​
​
                        Green Card Soldier 

                        seasonal migrant worker
                        unwed mother in Arizona
                        temporary work visa expires
                        sent back across the border

                        she allows her teenaged son
                        a chance to have a better life
                        than his first eighteen years
                        to stay and join the U.S. Army

                        he fights to become an American
                        becomes an American fighting man
                        offers his life for this country and
                        becomes a citizen ... posthumously 


                        by Contributing Poet  Carl "Papa" Palmer   Copyright © 2015 
                        VWP 2015     First published in  VietnamWarPoetry.com 



                        Portrait of Helen 

                        Her permanent is just that,
                        not a hair out of place, ever.

                        She smiles forever her same
                        small smile from this cracked

                        faded photo framed in oval pewter
                        on the metal wall locker shelf

                        next to my barracks bay bunk.
                        Her best green dress and pale

                        jade necklace both enhance her
                        rusty red hair remembered from

                        that day in this yellowed black and
                        white print. I touch her picture,

                        stroke her face, long for her embrace,
                        to breathe her aroma of lavender sachet.

                        I close my eyes and sway as my record
                        player plays, "My Wild Irish Rose". 


                        by Contributing Poet  Carl "Papa" Palmer   Copyright © 2015 
                        VWP 2015     First published in  VietnamWarPoetry.com 



                        incoming 

                        daughter pops bubble wrap
                        laughs as Daddy dives
                        behind the couch
                        after his tour in Vietnam 


                        by Contributing Poet  Carl "Papa" Palmer   Copyright © 2015 
                        VWP 2015     First published in  VietnamWarPoetry.com 


                        Dalton 

                        Wayne was his name
                        before he went to war,
                        now calls himself, Dalton.

                        Seven seniors joined the army
                        buddy plan after high school
                        graduation, class of '66.

                        Newspaper picture
                        posted permanently in city hall
                        shows seven salutes to our flag
                        before boarding a Ft Bragg bus.

                        The seven young men:
                        Wayne, Dennis, Alan, Lester,
                        Tommy, Oscar and Ned
                        went to war.
                        Only Wayne comes home.

                        He sits on the bench
                        at the downtown greyhound depot,
                        each day, all day,
                        watches riders wave goodbye,
                        tears in their eyes,
                        greeted with handshakes,
                        hugged hello.

                        His cardboard sign displays
                        their names:
                        Dennis
                        Alan
                        Lester
                        Tommy
                        Oscar
                        Ned

                        He calls himself, Dalton. 


                        by Contributing Poet  Carl "Papa" Palmer   Copyright © 2015 
                        VWP 2015     First published in  VietnamWarPoetry.com ​           
Bio:  Carl "Papa" Palmer of Old Mill Road in Ridgeway, Virginia, lives in University Place, Washington. He is retired from the  military and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enjoying life as “Papa” to his grand descendants and being a Franciscan Hospice volunteer. Carl is a Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net and Micro Award nominee. He is retired Army, his son is retired Air  Force and his grand-girl is treating COVID as an AF nurse at Travis AFB. PAPA’s MOTTO: Long Weekends Forever!
 

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