Does anybody here write stories or poetry?

CPT Kirill *Russian* Varshavskiy — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 00:51:53 -0400

Written way in basic:

Scouts are moving through the valley,
They are crows in search of prey.
In the midnight blue you'll see them,
Sending enemy to hell.

Hasty shadows are so quiet.
Broken sound is same as death,
Scouts are moving through the valley,
Morning sun will tell you rest.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2016 1:03 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 01:03:07 -0400

The closest I get to writing stories or poetry is blog posts and music lyrics respectively. Do you publish your works online ?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2016 1:05 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 01:05:01 -0400

I recently met a homeless Veteran that writes poetry. He wrote two poems for me. They are very special.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2016 12:33 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 12:33:22 -0400

I actually had a book win an award recently and is being adapted to screenplay. The so-far-unpublished book is entitled Sorrow, and it's come a long way through hell to get where it is. Never give up on writing if you're passionate about it. It can take you to places you never thought imaginable.

Response by LTC Matthew Robinson made Jul 16 at 2016 11:24 PM

LTC Matthew Robinson — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 23:24:12 -0400

I write both. Shared a recent poem on this page.

Response by SPC Darren Koele made Jul 17 at 2016 7:13 PM

SPC Darren Koele — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 19:13:57 -0400

I used to write Fantasy genre short stories about 20 years ago. It was my escape from an otherwise unfulfilling life as it was less expensive and less destructive than drugs and alcohol. Even used those stories to write a book which sat on my hard drive unviewed for about 6 years before a friend found it. Despite his expression that he thought it was pretty good (what little he read), I quickly hit DELETE. Haven't written anything since then.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2016 4:16 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 04:16:09 -0400

I've written three, 1 published so far.

Response by Sgt Gabriel Benavides made Jul 28 at 2016 5:18 PM

Sgt Gabriel Benavides — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 17:18:31 -0400

I write quite a bit. But, I haven't published yet. I also tutor kids in a high school, and every chance I get when a student shows interest in writing I give good pointers and advice. The only problem with teaching kids about writing is that most want to be song writer/singers. I find writing poetry is difficult for me, because all that comes to mind is the poetry from my college years, so creative poetry is a special gift that most can't do.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2016 3:27 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 15:27:55 -0400

I am writing a fantasy novel now, and I am re-engaging with my more poetic side. I love to write, and hopefully, I can make something out of it.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Oct 4 at 2016 11:05 AM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 11:05:54 -0400

Keep up the good work!

Response by Sgt Dallas D'Angelo-Gary made Oct 5 at 2016 12:39 PM

Sgt Dallas D'Angelo-Gary — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 12:39:59 -0400

Sure do!

Response by CPO Robert (Mac) McGovern made Apr 13 at 2017 1:04 AM

CPO Robert (Mac) McGovern — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 01:04:38 -0400

Krill,

I write both and have now published twelve books.

Response by SPC Anna Larson made Apr 26 at 2017 11:16 AM

SPC Anna Larson — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 11:16:05 -0400

Both, I have a couple Novellas, a couple short stories, a non-fiction book all published, and the rare occasional poem.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 8:29 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 08:29:15 -0400

Absolutely CPT Kirill *Russian* Varshavskiy, I write poetry! I have published a few poems in local anthologies. My thesis mentor approved my manuscript and I sent it off to the book binder this morning. It'll take a few weeks to receive the degree, but I am in the final steps of earning my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a focus on Poetry! Now that I have more free time I will be entering contests and seeking a publisher for some chapbooks soon.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 11 at 2017 11:04 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:04:33 -0400

Yes. I have a couple books written and a long list of poetic pieces. I have Facebook page I dmin for veteran poetry.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 11 at 2017 11:09 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:09:33 -0400

The sweat comes rolling off my brow
And continues down my face
I begin to rethink my decisions
That led me to this awful place
But just as my mind begins to stir
Around those memories
The hiss and whistle of flying rounds
Begin to surround me
And as much as I would like to think
Of a much simpler time
It is much more important now
To put other thoughts into my mind
My men are all situated
Their ammunition is all packed out
So that is one less thing that I
Need to be worrying about
And when the first defening scream
Of contact comes ringing in my ears
I know I am seconds away
From facing my greatest fear
All my guys are well trained
They all know just what to do
And it's second nature now
Of course I know too
Shooting goes back and forth
Brass is littering the ground
And then of course my worst fear
Is hearing the sobering sound
"Medic!" i hear from my right flank
I know a man's been hit
I grab the doc sitting next to me
And we go running down the ditch
What only took us a second or two
Feels like it took days
I throw the medic down to my man
Just in time to hear him say
"Sarg, please tell my wife
That i love her so very much"
I get down and grab my private's hand
"You're gonna make it so shut up!"
The medic starts to go to work
Packing his belly wound
And as the radio man calls for Dustoff
I say he'll see his wife soon
Then in a split second there
The ditch exploded around me
I listened as my other guys
Yelled out it was an RPG
When all the dirt and dust did clear
I looked down at my injured man
But he did not look up at me
There while I held his hand
The shrapnel cut right through him
He didn't have a prayer
And that young man who i said I'd protect
Died right then and there
The firefight ended a few hours after
He was our only casualty
But it only took that broken promise
To forever change who was me
That day was seven years ago
But it feels like yesterday
Every night inside my dreams
I'm still forever in the fray
I wake at night in cold sweat
And my heart pounds in my chest
My wife tries to comfort me
And God knows she does her best
But I can never forget that day
And the look on my man's face
When I told him he would be okay
And I would get him out of that place
And flashes of that injured boy
Haunt me without reprieve
And I hope and pray everyday
That he would please forgive me
So tonight I'll get out of bed
And I'll pour myself a drink
And I will look into the darkness
And I'll begin to think
That part of me came home after that
And he walks around in shadows
But part of me died in the desert
And without him I am hollow

Response by CPO Robert (Mac) McGovern made May 30 at 2017 2:33 PM

CPO Robert (Mac) McGovern — Tue, 30 May 2017 14:33:52 -0400

Within the elderly are contained the memories of a lifetime. How many of us know what secrets and adventures are waiting to be told and lived simply by listening to what they have to say?

Fleeting Thoughts

We write our thoughts,
not to forget,
but,
to document
a moment of fleeting thought
shared from memory,
then gone forever.

Thoughts converted to memories
as age surges toward twilight,
expressed as vivid reenactments
of history and genealogy.

To let memory pass into obscurity,
decry the sadness that exists
in the mind of man.

We write our thoughts,
not to forget,
but,
to document,
to learn what the mind is teaching,
as,
fleeting thoughts flow through
the mind,
soon lost forever.

I am a believer in documenting my history as well as that of my family. Documentation establishes legacy. We leave our legacy for our children, grandchildren, and future generations so they may know us through our writings.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2020 9:27 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 09:27:49 -0500

I write.. but I've yet to publish anything.

Response by SFC R. Lee Linebarger made Mar 17 at 2021 11:48 AM

SFC R. Lee Linebarger — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 11:48:38 -0400

“Remember Me”
By R. Lee Linebarger, SFC (Ret), 12/4/2018

Remember me now
As I was then
Remember me
When I left
Proud and full of life
Remember me
In my innocence
Before life came in
And skewed who I was
Remember me
The one who left
To go and defend
Remember me
Before I fell
My blood spilt
That freedom
Did not die
Remember me
Who was your son
Your daughter
A husband
A wife
The mother of children
A father to little ones
Remember me
Politicians
When you give your speeches
To be re-elected
Remember me
And those like me
That did not come home
Remember me
And my brethren
Laying in Arlington’s fields
Remember me Mamma
Daddy
Your child
Who has died
In our nation’s defense
Remember me Mothers and Fathers
Who said “not mine”
Who said “let some other’s”
Remember me
When you see my family cry
Remember me
When your family gathers
That I will not be with mine
Remember me
At Christmas, Thanksgiving
All holiday gathering in between
Remember me
When you complain
Of job hours you are working
Or of taxes you pay
Remember me
When you eat
A hot meal
In a warm dry place
Remember me when exchange
Presents and gifts
Before you complain
That you did not get
The one thing you wanted
Remember me
Who only wanted
A warm blanket
A warm meal
A moment of respite
Remember me
As I stand guard
Watching over you and yours
Remember me
When you see your children
Grandchildren too
When they are born
That I saw mine
Born from afar
A picture in a letter
Of a beautiful baby
A boy, a girl
Remember me on Memorial Day
Veterans Day as well
On all days you value your freedom
That me and my comrades
Defend for you
Remember me
Protesters that spit on me
Burn our flag on hallowed ground
That me and my comrades
Died to defend
Your First Amendment Right
To do so
Without fear of retaliation
Without fear of respite
Remember me
Those who would boast
That I died and defended
Yet you have given little
To keep our nation free and alive
Remember me
The one percent
That has defended liberty
That has given our lives
That all should be free
That all should sleep in peace tonight
Remember me
When a folded flag
Triangle in shape
Is presented to my kin
Three volleys fired over my grave
The somber tune of “Taps” is played
Remember me
The one who said
If not me, then who
Who will defend?