Recordings for Later Listening

By Ben White

Recordings for Later Listening
Prologue

They were the Vietnam veterans
Who let us in on
Their Cold War mission
While they despised
Our Reaganomic bonuses
And our vacation tours
To Korea, Hawaii, Germany, 
Italy, and especially, 
The “combat” in Granada.

We were the heirs apparent
Trained and made ready to inherit
The organization from
Tight-fisted careers
Not ready to let go.

I was a tourist
Stationed in Germany
And though I was glad
To be written out of the will,
I listened, 
Recorded their stories,
And knew my youthful world view
Would be changed forever.

Recordings for Later Listening
Transgressions

In Vietnam,
America lost
Her sense
Of masculinity,
And the soldiers
Have had to live
With what they did
Knowing others know
What they had done
While veterans
From World War
One and Two
Were welcomed home
Without questions – 
Never questioned
And never having
To admit
Their truths.

Recordings for Later Listening
Middle East Finger

it was just another town
full of violent potential
the convoy snaked through

trucks slithering
with hatred, suspicion, destruction
sights on eyes
safeties on thumbs

an American middle finger
waved to convey the attitude

explosions expected
always expected
gunfire, ambush, none

of which happened

perhaps
it would have been better if they had
and that would have been it

light it up
finish it
call it victory

instead
a six-year-old simply –
but with more venom – 
uncoiled his finger
and returned the gesture

it was violently evident
this conflict would last
for generations

Recordings for Later Listening
GI Joe

Never did I feel more
Like a real GI Joe
Than when the Army
Issued me an M16
With parts
Manufactured by
Mattel.

****

When Ben White was serving his 22-year military career in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard, and then again when he was earning his MFA from the University of Tampa, he thought he was a poet. Silly Ben – despite his books earning some recognition, he is not a poet. He is a witness. What he writes is testimony.