Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 17
April 13, 2025
Out of the Sky
-A perpetual juddering whirligig –
Sendingeven the strongest, shuddering,
Seekingshelter from the crippling storm.
Theconstantly pounding juggernaut
Creatingbedlam and confusion til
Nowherein this endless night is there
Aplace that’s safe from harm.
Ipause and ponder what unforgivable
Evildeed I must have done to
Summonthis Hell from the firmament
Tooverwhelm and paralyze.
Surely,there is justice somewhere,
Somegreat karma round the bend
Withshielding power to sustain us
Sowe might survive.
Thisis madness,
Vilenightmare,
Thisundue cacophony
Thatseems incessant in its measure.
Mustit be the end of me?
April 12, 2025
War Changes Everything
Asa people, as a nation, as a realm.
Clearly,there are differences
Betweenwhat’s right and wrong.
Noneed to let discussion overwhelm.
Butwar changes everything.
Weare children on a playground
Running,laughing, wild and free
Untilsome pretentious bully comes along
Demandingtribute’s lame intimidation,
Stirringtrouble. Insisting that we pirouette
Tohis self-serving song.
Yes,war changes everything.
Patiencestretches just so far
Tilcommon sense prevails.
Onlyone thing to be done
Topass these dire travails.
Muststand tall, must forestall this
Brutishcold incursion.
Forceto force is all the tyrant
Understandsin his perversion.
Buteven when we win, we fail
Inlosses beyond measure.
Youngmen die and loved ones weep
Protectingthe ideas they treasure…
Becausewar changes everything.
April 11, 2025
Walking the Perimeter
Necessityever created,
Amindless abandonment of willful thought
Meantonly to keep the wolf subjugated.
Walkingin lockstep with himself,
Weaponat ready to challenge on sight,
Waiting,watching, now watching some more
Forshape-shifting phantoms stalking the night.
Desperatelystriving to stave off the beast of sleep.
Eyesopen, must stay alert.
Gazingout into the wide swathe of nothing
Tilmemory forestalls and senses pervert.
Howmuch longer? How many more steps
Tilthis ceaseless night comes to conclusion?
Upagain, down again, making the rounds again
Tilthe night is a mask of illusion.
It’sa thankless task,
Butsomeone must do it.
Millionshave managed before
Toget through it.
Hewalks the perimeter, keeping his keep
Whilearmies of millions are sound asleep.
April 10, 2025
Pray for Peace
Intosome hellish hinterland.
Prayfor peace.
Raucousrumblings charge the night to
Spreadacross the no-man’s land.
Prayfor peace.
Dauntlessdangers stalk the strand
Threateningthe Motherland
Aswe rise to take our stand and
Prayfor peace.
Makesno difference if you don’t
Believethere is a promised land.
Prayfor peace.
Noone will think ill of you or
Bringyou under reprimand.
Prayfor peace.
Whethersage of firebrand,
Atheistor pious man,
Gracebestows the upper hand.
Pray,pray for peace.
April 9, 2025
Don’t Blame the Soldier
Itdid not turn out well.
Inspite of our might and the fact we were right
Thewhole thing went straight to hell.
Butdon’t blame the soldier.
Thesoldiers and sailors and brash leathernecks,
Theairmen and others untold,
Theboldest and bravest our nation could muster
Couldnot change what was to unfold.
So,don’t blame the soldier.
Unreston the campuses, rioting streets
Everynight on the six o’clock news.
Deceitand dissent a convenient excuse for
Ill-twistedpolitical views.
No.don’t blame the soldier.
Letthis be the lesson, and never forget
Ifwe dare task this nation to fight.
Ifthe goal is to win, we must go all in
Andour purpose be noble and right.
Andthe soldier will follow,
Thesoldier will serve without question.
Onthat we depend.
He’llfight for his country
Andthe one who’s beside him
Rightthrough to the cold bitter end.
So,please. Don’t blame the soldier.
April 8, 2025
I Died (A Little) Today: The Letter Home
Sorry that Ihaven’t written to you for a spell.
Things have been alittle nuts around this crazy place.
Sarge has had uspulling extra duty for a while
What with Charlielurking all around the base.
Rough day today.We were out there on patrol
When our unitquickly came under attack.
The fighting wasso violent for a while
I wasn’t even surewe’d make it back.
Truth is… not allof us returned.
You remember mybest friend, Billy Ray?
I mentioned him toyou in previous letters.
Well… they’reshipping his remains back home today.
It all seemed tohappen in an instant,
We were talkingwhat we’d do when we get home.
Billy Ray had justtold me some old dumb joke
When the shotsrang out. I turned and he was gone.
Don’t know if Ican go back out tomorrow.
I just want thisstupid war to go away.
The truth is, Ithink I’ll get past the sorrow,
But a little pieceinside me died today.
Don’t worry, Mom.I’m gonna be alright.
Before you knowit, my tour will be done.
Gotta go for now.The Sarge is calling.
We’ll be togethersoon.
Love,
Your son
p.s. Tell Dad I love him.
April 7, 2025
For Family
“Yes,I was, son,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
“Mommysays war is bad, she says it’s evil.”
“Yes,son, it is. It’s a horrible task.”
“Doesthat mean you’re bad, Grandpa? Why did you go?”
“It’shard to explain,” he said, “But let me try”
Hard to defend why theyoung and the innocent
Rush to a cause where somany might die.
“Nobodywants war,” he says with a sigh, “but
Sometimesyou just have no choice.
Whenenemies threaten the ones you love
Someonemust stand to give them a voice.
Wehave to protect. We need to defend
Againstthose who would take our freedom away.
You’reyoung and it’s a mystery right now,
Butyou’ll grow and you’ll understand someday.”
Hepaused for a moment, then softly he spoke.
“I’lltell you one thing for sure that is true.
Youwant to know why I fought in the war?
Idid it for family.
Idid it for you.”
April 6, 2025
A Grateful Nation
Whenthe fight is done,
Reachingdeep to heal the wounds of war
Sothey might carry on.
Agrateful nation mourns the loss of
Thosewho paid the final price,
Comfortsthose they left behind
Inhonor of their sacrifice.
Agrateful nation knows that freedom
Mustbe bought by blood and sweat.
Forgingon with confidence,
Nosecond guessing, no regrets.
Agrateful nation prays, although the gift
Isoft misunderstood.
Apsalm of praise to one on high
Whosegrace provides all that is good.
Agrateful nation will not falter,
Willnot waiver on its course,
Seeksto lift the people’s spirit,
Movingon with no remorse.
April 5, 2025
Basic Soldier
Notfor gratitude or praise
Thebasic soldier serves in silence
Witha watchful steely gaze.
Nota slave to needless causes,
Justa cog on grinding gear that
Keepsthe locomotive charging forward
Withoutdoubt or fear.
Somemay speak of God and country,
Friendsand family, hearth and home,
Butwhen the bombs of battle rage
Thesoldier never stands alone.
Brothersbold and sisters stoic,
Bandedby a single bond,
Singthe same brave song of freedom
Marching,marching ever on.
Hailand greet the basic soldier.
Millionsnow, millions then,
Millionswhen their cause is noble.
Shallwe see their like again?
April 4, 2025
Old Veteran
Reflectingon those glory days
Hecan’t forget, won’t forget til end of time,
Searchingreason without rhyme.
Shouldersnot so broad as then,
Stoopedforward in an awkward sway
Exceptfor when Old Glory passes
Inreview as Souza plays.
Grizzledchin and wrinkled brow belay
Theswagger known in youth when
Worldswere open, energy unbound and
Fearan unknown truth.
Answeringthe call to service he
Neverstopped to question fears
Eventhough he knew his choice would
Bringhis mother lakes of tears.
Raspyvoice, much slower now reflects
Theglory known to few
Ofbattles fought, brothers lost,
Fearsrecalled as darkness grew.
Letany who might need to know rush
Toseek his sage advice.
Thereis wisdom from experience,
Theoffspring of self-sacrifice.
