My Comrade in Arms
(for Rodney and Richard—Johnson)
from a schooling
comrades were Russian commies
from an education
comrades were soldiers
basic training during Nam
we were bunk mates
no dna brotherhood
and the band yet to play
bonds of
practicing weaponry
bonds of
weekend brothel boozing
time of danger
brewing on a far horizon
time of reality
mortality at hand
flesh and blood
torn and flowing
I remember your face
those times from pictures
those times of pride
friendship and toasting
roasting in jokes
laughing arm in arm
decades later
I finger touch
your name
on a granite wall
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
Polished Granite for Viet Nam
share and exchange
near the reflecting pool
good morning rise
twilight gentle fall
sky clouds drift
maybe a spatter of rain
names etched in formation
pieces orchestrated into puzzle
light mirrored in darkness
reflection all ours
rise up
still standing
a good mourning
next beginning
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
Last One Standing
what did we learn
how did we share
sweat flowing
voices loud
dance floor shaking
political
applause and protest
history in rear view mirror
late night smoke filled
hops and barley pubs
deep thoughts exchanged
poor money times
harmonizing harbor views
guitar case filling with coins
battlefields behind
ancestral passings
children out the door
crossing our Rubicon
crossing over Jordan
what did we learn
how did we share
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
At the Viet Nam Memorial
In the reality
I was there
To find your way here.
In a wish dream
You are there
To find my way here.
In history
We are together
Having found our way.
Now in this twilight
Of our final embrace
Forgive me all my sins.
I will pray for us
From a great fire of grace--
Then sing this benediction.
To heaven's great love
Throw all our ashes
In a high fast wind.
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published numerous anthologies and his books,
most recently in “Watching Angels Dance by Candlelight” (Loose Moose Publishing, 2019).
Nocturnal Recollections
(for fellow Nam travelers)
in panoramic dreams
silhouettes dance and parade
moonlit flare bright
ridge lines or elephant grass
red green tracer lines
laser above a quaking ground
lava flows though our windows
familiar ghosts bring salt
pour into our wounds
taunting us to laughter
awaken one more time
lathered in sweat
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2022
VWP 2022 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
Talking to Comrades
what happened
was what happened
what could not be
could not be
our plans were then
not this now reality
I cannot etch
your name from this wall
you were etched back then
this now deep memory
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2022
VWP 2022 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
(for Rodney and Richard—Johnson)
from a schooling
comrades were Russian commies
from an education
comrades were soldiers
basic training during Nam
we were bunk mates
no dna brotherhood
and the band yet to play
bonds of
practicing weaponry
bonds of
weekend brothel boozing
time of danger
brewing on a far horizon
time of reality
mortality at hand
flesh and blood
torn and flowing
I remember your face
those times from pictures
those times of pride
friendship and toasting
roasting in jokes
laughing arm in arm
decades later
I finger touch
your name
on a granite wall
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
Polished Granite for Viet Nam
share and exchange
near the reflecting pool
good morning rise
twilight gentle fall
sky clouds drift
maybe a spatter of rain
names etched in formation
pieces orchestrated into puzzle
light mirrored in darkness
reflection all ours
rise up
still standing
a good mourning
next beginning
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
Last One Standing
what did we learn
how did we share
sweat flowing
voices loud
dance floor shaking
political
applause and protest
history in rear view mirror
late night smoke filled
hops and barley pubs
deep thoughts exchanged
poor money times
harmonizing harbor views
guitar case filling with coins
battlefields behind
ancestral passings
children out the door
crossing our Rubicon
crossing over Jordan
what did we learn
how did we share
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
At the Viet Nam Memorial
In the reality
I was there
To find your way here.
In a wish dream
You are there
To find my way here.
In history
We are together
Having found our way.
Now in this twilight
Of our final embrace
Forgive me all my sins.
I will pray for us
From a great fire of grace--
Then sing this benediction.
To heaven's great love
Throw all our ashes
In a high fast wind.
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2023
VWP 2023 First published numerous anthologies and his books,
most recently in “Watching Angels Dance by Candlelight” (Loose Moose Publishing, 2019).
Nocturnal Recollections
(for fellow Nam travelers)
in panoramic dreams
silhouettes dance and parade
moonlit flare bright
ridge lines or elephant grass
red green tracer lines
laser above a quaking ground
lava flows though our windows
familiar ghosts bring salt
pour into our wounds
taunting us to laughter
awaken one more time
lathered in sweat
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2022
VWP 2022 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
Talking to Comrades
what happened
was what happened
what could not be
could not be
our plans were then
not this now reality
I cannot etch
your name from this wall
you were etched back then
this now deep memory
by Contributing Poet Richard Eric Johnson Copyright © 2022
VWP 2022 First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com
Bio: Richard Eric Johnson has five published volumes of poetry, and his poetry has appeared in numerous publications in print and online. He is a graduate of Indiana University, a retired police officer, and a veteran of the U.S.Army having served in Viet Nam and West Berlin.
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