The Heart Of A Poet
Table of contents for From The Front
- From The Front — SERIES INTRODUCTION
- Iraqi Deployment, Round 2 (From October 3)
- A Letter — October 5
- The Iraqi Children, Contentment With Little
- I’m Looking Over A Nine Foot Cobra
- The Heart Of A Poet
- What Shall I Be When I Get Back?
- Flossing Them Pearly Whites……?
- Good Ole American Hedonism
- Suffer The Little Children
- How About Them Texans? An Ending Sure To Give Fans A Halloween Fright
- Creature Feature In Iraq
- We Are The Fallen — A Dedication
- Concern at the front — Update
- Brotherhood
- Concern at the front — Update
- Work As You Are Given: Errrrrrr
- Concern at the front — Update
- Redneck Heaven In Iraq
- Where I Belong
- Standing Post (poem)
- Truly Meals Of Thanksgiving
- Alas For The Brownies!
- Give Thanks
- Some Days Just Stink
- A Christmas Greeting From Iraq
- Sharp Wits? No, Chainsaws And Stones
- Pearls On Life’s Necklace
- Man’s Best Friend, Even In Iraq
- Snails And Pails And Little Dogs’ Tails? No, Chris’s Tail & Tales
- @#$%^&* M’s Revenge!
- Bits of Poetry And Sundries
- I’m Dreaming Of An Explosively White Fallujah
I John 3:23:
“And this is His commandment:
that we should believe on the name ofHis Son Jesus Christ and love oneanother, as He gave us commandment.”Friday, October 12
3:30 A.M.
God Bless this morning,
Chris was just outside the city and was drained. I could hear it so clearly in his voice. He wanted more than anything to read me the poem that he’d written. He was afraid that it wasn’t good. He thought it might be seen as “cheesy“, or “corny”. His chaplain saw it and posted it for all to see. He was so proud that he’d been able to get some of his feelings into a poem. I found the tears flowing as he read it to me. I had him send it to me as I cherish his effort and words. I need to share this with all of you:
A GRUNT’S TALE by CM
Its 5 P.M in the evening
and I’m putting down my gun
been walking all day
in the warm Iraqi sun.I’m missin’ home like crazy
but I’m glad that I’m here
got another 6 months to go
before I’m out of here.I’m proud of my service
for I have served my country well
I pray I go to Heaven
because I’ve spent my time in Hell.Got a lot of life to live
got a lot of things to do
but if Jesus calls me home
I know He’ll see me through.Please mama don’t you cry
for I am in a better place
I died a free man
by God’s amazing grace.
They had gotten into a firefight with Al Quaeda earlier and had lost several guys from the Iraqi army. He was sad over the loss although he’d not had the chance to become close to any of them. They are fighting for their freedom against an implacable enemy invader. He called shortly after the firefight, but his day was just beginning.
One request he made (that really tickled me) was for canned cheese and Ritz crackers. After they come in from a mission or convoy they need something fast. The chow hall is not always ready to receive them, so a quick snack is good at these times. On such a day as he was having it’s the little moments of comic relief that get us through. I doubt Chris would find it funny, but I do. A firefight, nothing big….The loss of men, devastating…..but I’d like Ritz crackers and cheese, please.
God keep you and yours,
J