23 What if I had been on the Other Siade

Curious

 

-

I was curious about What my Daddy did in the War.

Where he fought.

I knew North Africa, Cicily, Italy.

Mention of those things seemed to be allowed and only once when I asked was Daddy wounded would Mother said Yes, but nothing more.

Our World was full of Secrets that everybody seemed to know,

But I wasn’t Privy.

When we lived in a new house Grandpa Cline built on first street,

(Where we lived when Hank Williams Died, I remember the day and that era Vividly).

There was a Counter/bar type room seperator with Glass Door, Shelves

At about my little eye level.

It had many Alabaster Carvings of animals and structures

that Daddy’d brought back from the war.

I liked the Leaning tower of Pizza, Daddy said he saw it.

Those things were treasured.

At one end were his Campaign Pins.

There was a book in there entitled “After Five” about my Daddy’s armored Division.

Mother said the Navy wanted him but he said he weren’t getting’ on no Damn Ship,

So the Army Air corps said he would be a good size for a Ball gunner

or Paratrouper,

but he said he weren’t Crawlin’ in No Damn Airplane,

and if they could figger how to get him on it,

He’d not be jumpin out for the president himself.

So,

They asked him what he Did Want, and he told ‘em to give him a gun and turn him Loose

On some Dry ground cause

he could run faster than he could swim or

Fly,

So they Put him on a ship to Africa

Where his gun was mounted on the turrent of a Sherman tank which he used in proceeding to Tear Up Jack with

From Kesselring Pass to Rhome and in between and beyond.

And of Secrets??

My Brother R A said Recently that Daddy wasn’t Wounded.

(Did you ever see a Wond on him?

he replied to my Question.)

Yet

My Uncle A C (Mother’s baby brother)

once told me that Daddy was one of four to make it out from That big goof,

(he thought it to be) Kesselring pass

Where well over 700 that didn’t Make it out, and that’s where Daddy got Wounded.

I do vividly remember a Purple Heat

resting in an Open Velvet little box amongst the ribbons,

but,

I’ve never been sure.

 

There were no guns allowed in our house,

No toy guns, nor bb guns and no shootin at each other with our thumb and finger,

and there would not have been Sling shots, but Grandad had showed me how to make one,

and that somehow Sanctified it,

And Daddy didn’t have any Idea how good I was with it.

- - - -

----,,,,....____

 

WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE

words/music eD f

Wounded I fall to the ground

My body scoched from that great mortal blow

Like so many who fall all around

I feel defeat only the poor fallen know

 

CH: ---/

 

Well I’d rather feel the whispering kiss

Of those songs in my lover’s eyes

Oh how they once soothed the unsteady beat

of this heart born more foolish than wise

---

 

So I crawl in retreat without pride

For those souls I took, I now feel shame

What If I had been on the other side

Would I feel Freedom or Greed was to blame?

 

CH: ---/

 

So how cursed are the leaders of youth

Who proclaim with Just reason why

They send me to defend Phantom Truth

That gives them reason to Live while I die

 

 

CH: ---/

Done