Fifty-eight thousand.
Many unique calls to death;
Vietnam, the war.
Robert T. Kon, 04 April 2019 |
Cutters not issued.
C-Ration case bound in wire;
Rifle twists, wire pops.
Robert T. Kon, 05 April 2019 |
Our boots, his sandals.
That suddens incident - death,
Where the twain shall meet.
Robert T. Kon, 31 Dec 2014 |
Walk An Empty Trail,
Enter An Empty Camp Site;
Latter Means Much More.
Robert T. Kon, 30 March 2019 |
For all who went home,
It was for us, nasty work,
For them, a long war.
Robert T. Kon, 05 April 2019 |
It does not stay there.
A flowing stream, day and night,
There are images.
Robert T. Kon, 05 April 2019 |
Good days - Boy Scout trips:
Wildlife, cookouts, cards, laughter.
Bad days - unlike that.
Robert T. Kon, 05 April 2019
|
Life in Vietnam
Needs a mental adjustment:
"It don't mean nothing".
Robert T. Kon, 06 April 2019
|
Edge of foxhole, dark.
Rain, mud, observing movement:
Glow of scorpion.
Robert T. Kon, 07 April 2019
|
A tainted blivet
Brings water from rear to field.
Boon to Tang makers.
Robert T. Kon, 07 April 2019
|
Enemy likes night.
Wildlife, too, makes noise at night.
To wait or to shoot?
Robert T. Kon, 07 April 2019
|
Interrupted sleep:
Termite jaws clacking beneath.
To my mind, a snake.
Robert T. Kon, 8 April 2019
|
Night perimeter
So near, but where? One Friendly
Drew machine gun fire.
Robert T. Kon, 09 April 2019
|
Let people know Where
You are; bowel movements
Can cost you dearly.
Robert T. Kon, 9 April 2019
|
Hill, toe, root plus pack
With gravity, compels a
Sudden downhill fall.
Robert T. Kon, 09 April 2019
|
Instruments of war
When played, command attention.
Never boring, they.
Robert T. Kon, 10 April 2019
|
"BOOM!" froze my brain which
Noted a denser part of
The "BOOM!" in my flesh.
Robert T. Kon, 11 April 2019
|
On canvas, the wound
Is a black circle With a
Small core of bright red.
Robert T. Kon, 11 April 2019
|
When newly there, I
Saw far night skies flash on/off.
Lightning or cannon?
Robert T. Kon, 13 April 2019
|
Unfortunately,
There can be too much detail
For a mere seventeen.
Robert T. Kon, 13 April 2019
|
Cambodia was
Different from Vietnam -
It wanted more blood.
Robert T. Kon, 14 April 2019
|
Don't torture yourself.
In war, the question "what if?"
Cannot be tested.
Robert T. Kon, 14 April 2019
|
Cross river or not.
Each way a roll of the bones;
One outcome certain.
Robert T. Kon, 14 April 2019
|
The bird fell to earth
From not such a great height, thus
Cargo all smiling.
Robert T. Kon, 14 April 2019
|
New Year's Day, morning,
Landed in 'Nam, first combat
Troops of 70's.
Robert T. Kon, 16 April 2019
|
Easter on patrol
Punctuated by ambush,
Scattered purple hearts.
Robert T. Kon, 16 April 2019
|
Birthday, near Easter,
Found me not in bamboo but
A clean hospital.
Robert T. Kon, 16 April 2019
|
Memorial Day,
Cross border, twelve friends wounded,
Two friends, K.I.A.
Robert T. Kon, 16 April 2019
|
Flight home east across
International Date Line
Gave two Thanksgivings.
Robert T. Kon, 16 April 2019
|
Helmet always loose,
Seems to float above when my
Body seeks the ground.
Robert T. Kon, 17 April 2019
|
Birth of ambrosia
Dates to mixing two cans,
Peaches and poundcake.
Robert T. Kon, 18 April 2019
|
Simple but great joy
Found when beer can rolls on ice
In heat of the day.
Robert T. Kon, 18 April 2019
|
Comes a time you know
From some inner sensor that
Bullets will soon fly.
Robert T. Kon, 18 April 2019
|
My eyes took in all,
Insecure in field, reading
Mail by BRIGHT moonlight.
Robert T. Kon, 20 April 2019
|
First firefight truly
A fork in the trail where I
Survived denial.
Robert T. Kon, 25 April 2019
|
Our battalion force
Met foe; I fire all bullets,
Throw grenade. No kills.
Robert T. Kon, 29 April 2019
|
Five thumps woke me.
Into our foxhole I jumped
While first round still flew.
Robert T. Kon, 02 May 2019
|
One LZ twice used:
One man dead by falling tree,
One by a sniper.
Robert T. Kon, 02 May 2019
|
Startled awake by
Small feet, as on a log, they
Traipsed me head to toe.
Robert T. Kon, 06 May 2019
|
I met a small snake
At eye level on the ground.
I left; snakes don't blink.
Robert T. Kon, 07 May 2019
|
Your love sustained us.
Letters, packages deserve
A monument, too.
Robert T. Kon, 08 May 2019
|
So invisible,
Almost unseen: brainy boys,
Elites to draft boards.
Robert T. Kon, 14 May 2019
|
In Vietnam, jam
Goes well on crackers but not
When triggers are pulled.
Robert T. Kon, 15 May 2019
|
My fingers threaten
A ground ant. It rears, jumps up,
Wants to take me down.
Robert T. Kon, 24 May 2019
|
What is it like, I
Asked, to be dead forty-nine years?
Has it been so long?
Robert T. Kon, 30 May 2019
|
That eternal change,
Our greatest reality:
Departing last breath.
Robert T. Kon, 30 May 2019
|
I heard the attack,
Every round, from safe distance.
My blood turned frozen.
Robert T. Kon, 25 Nov 2020
|
How seriously
They take their war, bloodletting,
Even if their own.
Robert T. Kon, 25 Nov 2020
|
God speaks in His way.
Maybe we read between lines.
Vietnam, a tome.
Wrapper for five others
Robert T. Kon, 26 Dec 2023
|
Space holder
Robert T. Kon,
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