Silent Night

[oneighty]

I seen the things
That live below
While lying there
In silent night
Listening to the
Black wind blow.

I seen the things there
Evil and dark
Me lying there
In silent night
Feeling and hearing
My pounding heart.

I seen the things
With rotting flesh
With bright red eyes
And sulphur breath
Me lying there in silent night
Eyes froze open
In private fright.

I seen the things
Of nightmares dreams
I seen the death
Of many things
I hear the sound
Of loneliness
As a passing train
Cracks the tracks
A Banshee whistle
Blowing back.

I seen me walking
Among those things
In the darkened forest
What does here me bring
Me lying here in silent night
Or am I there
In this darkest light?

I see those things
As I toss and turn
Me lying there in silent night
Shifting about in sweated dark
Why do I see?
What is it about?
As I skillfully walk
The darkened forest.

I see those things
They walk with me
Or is it me who
Walks with them?
It cannot be as I toss about
For I am man and they are not
Me lying here in silent night.

Clearer now I see those things
Strange it is they look like me
I see those things of
Nightmare's dreams
As closer now
We each do bring
Me lying here in silent night.

The truth comes in now
With dawning's light
Those things I see
That live below
The things that
Look a lot like me
Me lying here in dawning's light

I seen those things
That live below
Reflections of myself
I now know
The sins I done
Come back to me
Me lying here in silent
Fear.

25 years or more ago I wrote this while alone on my 'Vicky Mary'.
The pencil is fading on the lined paper torn from a spiral note book.

180

[JitterbugPerfume]

1. theimagery of this poem

is so stark and disturbing

It must have been a

very hard time in your life Ed

[pinerow]

2. Bravo!!!!!

nt

[oneighty]

3. Whooo Hoooooo

Not many people have ever seen this.

So far Pinerow and Jitterbug I think.

Thank you!

("Woe is me.") He writ!

180

[Droopy]

4. I seen those things, too

and they saw me back. They weren't friendly. They'll destroy you if you let them. Here's to better times :toast:

[ornotna]

5. Wow

You write great poems! Thank you. I sure hope you keep posting them.

[oneighty]

6. Thank you notawol

There is a story behind your name?

I have not written much poetry.

I have about ten more which I will post.

180

[ornotna]

7. Yep.

Certain individuals have gone AWOL during their service to our country. I didn't. ;)

[oneighty]

8. I was

AOL (6 hours) once due to a major snow storm grounding flights. Thirty days PAL, Captains Mast got six hours extra duty. Treasure Island 1952. Kept me out of Korea for thirty days.

180

[ornotna]

9. If you got that for 6 hours

due to circumstances beyond your control then Bush should be in prison. :mad:

[oneighty]

10. Yes he should be.

But there are rules for them and rules for us.

For me at seventeen years old it was an embarrassing living experience.

180

[Steel City Slim]

11. Wow!

That is great. Thank you for sharing.

[oneighty]

12. Gulf of Tonkin Gulf Club?

Will you tell us?

Thanks for your kind (And generous) comments.

180

[Steel City Slim]

13. Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club

The navy in Vietnam. I was on the USS Forrestal (CVA-59), as was fellow DUer and friend for almost 40 years, "jedr". "jedr" is the one who introduced me to DU.

[oneighty]

14. Navy.

Me too 1951-1960. Mineman-EOD

180 (My name has to do with the Navy)

[Steel City Slim]

15. Navy

I was in 1966-1969, aboard Forrestal '67-'69. Went WestPac and the Med. I was an aviation ordnanceman (AO). I must be dense, I don't see the connection between 180 and navy. Sorry.

[oneighty]

16. Steering 180 degrees off course

Hahahahaha. No reason why an AO should know that. Many AOs entered the EOD program.

180

[Steel City Slim]

17. OK, I Gotcha

I could have gone EOD if I shipped over, but that wasn't for me.