War Veterans, Washington DC

Vietnam War Veteran in conversation. © J. Ashley Nixon

War Veterans

Three Wars
And more
An outsiders tour
Not of duty,
Respect.

Comrades cast
From bullet metal
Or carved from metamorphics
That cure
The test of time.

Korean dawn
No MASH
No surgical martinis
With laughs,
A platoon.

Cagily cursing
Their paths
Through foliage
Leaving,
Their fear behind.

A Vietnam Vet’s reflection
Compelling conversation
With another generation
Fear, and grief and affection
For those endless, chiseled out names.

Living comrades from Kansas
World War 2 Vets helped along
Wheeled along, cheered along
To be with their old buddies
This cherry blossom bleeding day.

This poem is part of a series written while running, biking or taking public transport. It was inspired by the World War II Veterans from Kansas visiting World War II memorial in Washington DC together with some moments of reflection at the monuments to the Vietnam and Korean wars.

J. Ashley Nixon Photography