Posted by Francis Kent on February 10, 2012, 2:40 pm
AN ARMED GUARD SAILOR REMEMBERS
Yesterday may already have become No more than a fragment of the past, Consigned to that dim, distant time now all but devoid of shape and color.
Yet, despite the decades in between, We can call up in sharply etched detail The events of half a century ago, When the future was anything but sure.
As real now as then are the long, Lonely watches under blistering sun, Or in the frigid dark of night, Constantly on nerve-tingling alert.
Somewhere out there, we knew, Lurked the enemy, ready to launch A torpedo that could send us Within minutes to the bottom.
Even if the weeks in convoy Ended with every ship intact, Our goal might well have been Some beach fraught with danger.
There the threat could come From artillery drawn up on the beach, Or from fighter-bombers overhead, One as bent on killing as the other.
True, it happened long ago, But time has failed to dim The echo of the roaring guns, The sight of ships engulfed in flame.
Although for some, all this Is now no more than than history, For us it is, and will forever be, Reality, a living, bound-in-copper memory.
. -- Francis B. Kent
Re: Remembering
Posted by Roy Brown on February 13, 2012, 7:03 pm, in reply to "Remembering" 98.213.220.255
Fran, I either missed your poem or was out in La-La Land. I just saw it and it is a great memory "retriever". I really appreciate the entire poem. I sort of "shiver" about some of those days and nights on watch as I am sure many of you old salts do. If you were not there you won't understand. Thanks again, Fran Roy Brown
Re: Remembering
Posted by Theron on July 3, 2012, 12:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering" 131.210.6.75
thank you for these poesm. I am the son of a 89 year-old WWII vet, fighting now against alzheimers. Your poems touch me.
Re: Remembering
Posted by Francis Kent on February 13, 2012, 7:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering"
And thank you, Roy, for reading the thing and understanding its intent -- to call up some memories that make us appreciate all the more our continued presence here. -- Fran
Re: Remembering
Posted by CLARENCE RUTHERFORD on March 16, 2012, 11:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering"
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL POEM, "REMEMBERING",FRAN. IT CERTAINLY DOES BRING BACK SOME CHILLING MEMORIES,... ESPECIALLY OF THE MURMANSK RUN. MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THEN, BUT THE MEMORIES WILL BE WITH US FOREVER.
MEMORIES, MEMORIES, OF YEARS THAT HAVE PASSED'
YEARS FLY LIKE BIRDS,....BUT MEMORIES LAST!
MY WIFE, WHO WRITES POETRY, ESPECIALLY APPRECIATED THE TALENT THAT WENT INTO WRITING YOUR POEM OF MEMORIES.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, &, PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH US!
Re: Remembering
Posted by Francis Kent on March 17, 2012, 2:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering" Message modified by board administrator March 19, 2012, 10:24 pm
Clarence: I thank you for the thoughtful comment. Give my regards to your wife. I write these things as a way of staving off dementia. Here's another, which has nothing to do with the Armed Guard but which you might, as one who must be as old as I am, sympathize with.
-- Fran
LOOKING AHEAD
Are we really, as the poet said, No more than poor players, Who strut and fret, aimlessly, A brief hour upon life's stage?
Or is there, as others tell us, Something more, a purpose, An unknown and unknowable Dimension to why we’re here?
Even now, in what is called The late autumn of my years, I still find myself pondering The mystery of this question.
I’m unable, as from the start, To call up any evidence That might, just might, support The notions that occur to me.
Who can say, for example, That we’re not, in truth, Just reading from a script Lines penned long ago by Fate?
Or what skeptic can disprove The idea that we’re guided By a winged, always-present Companion, a guardian angel?
Without the slightest hesitation, I confess that I don’t know; But the day will surely come, When the mystery is swept away.
Then, and only then, will I Be able to express my thanks For the years that I was given, For the life that I was granted.
Not every day was joyful; There were hard times, wars; But I have no regrets, no complaints, For I was without question blessed:
Blessed with loving parents, Caring siblings, lasting friends, My wife who, though gone now , Still gives meaning to my life.
-- Francis B. Kent March 2012
Re: Remembering
Posted by CLARENCE RUTHERFORD on March 17, 2012, 11:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering"
HI, FRAN... THIS IS TRULY AN OUTSTANDING POEM,...THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH US! YOU HIT ON SO MANY MEMORIES, SOME PRECIOUS, SOME NOT, BUT ALL MEMORIES ARE "TREASURES"!
SO VERY SORRY TO READ THAT YOUR DEAR WIFE IS NO LONGER WITH YOU....... YES, I AM "NO SPRING CHICKEN".......IF GOD IS WILLING , I WILL CELEBRATE MY 87TH BIRTHDAY ON APRIL 3RD, &, OUR 67TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ON APRIL 8TH.
GOD HAS BLESSED US RICHLY, AS WE ALSO WERE BLESSED WITH WONDERFUL PARENTS & SIBLINGS, AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL!
THANKS, AGAIN, FRAN, FOR THE BEAUTIFUL POETRY. MY WIFE WAS SO ANXIOUS TO READ IT,..... AND SHE THINKS YOU ARE REALLY A WONDERFUL POET!
DO YOU HAPPEN TO BE A SHRINER? I AM,... AND MY WIFE HAS WRITTEN A LOT ABOUT THE WORK OF THE SHRINERS, WITH THE CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS. IN FACT, OUR CIRCUS IS COMING UP NEXT MONTH, &, WE BOTH WORK MANY HOURS WITH THAT,....&, ALSO FOR THE RED CROSS BLOOD BANK, AS VOLUNTEERS. THAT IS WHAT KEEPS US GOING...IN OUR "OLD AGE" ! WE ARE THANKFUL WE ARE ABLE!
THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING, FRAN. WE REALLY ENJOY READING YOUR MEMORIES,..[AS THEY ARE OURS, ALSO !]
STAY WELL & WARM!
CLAREN
Re: Remembering
Posted by Francis Kent on March 18, 2012, 2:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering"
Clarence: Although I admire their work, I am not a Shriner. My do-good work cosisted of several years' volunteer service at a nearby VA hospital, but that ended with what seems to be an incurable back disorder (Al Burnham knows whata that can be like). You are truly blessed in having your wife beside you. Once in a while, without provocation, put a hand on her arm and tell her how much you love her. -- Fran
Re: Remembering
Posted by melvin query on February 12, 2012, 7:26 pm, in reply to "Remembering" 64.71.99.123
I think this poem is just beautiful. It is so true regardless of what war you are or have been in. It makes me think back to my tour in Vietnam .
Re: Remembering
Posted by Francis Kent on February 12, 2012, 7:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering"
I thank you, Melvin. It's most kind of you to comment. When for a couple of days my posting stirred no response I thought I had hit a long foul ball. Again, thanks. -- Fran
Re: Remembering
Posted by melvin query on February 20, 2012, 9:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering" 64.71.99.123
mr. kent, you are very welcome. I guarantee you didn't hit a foul ball, as this brought back some 40 year old memories for me, and i'm sure it hit home with any vet that read it. I check this site about once a week, thats why it took so long to answer. i'm an army vet, my interest here on this site is because of my mother's brother, who gave the ultimate in march,1943 aboard the ss james sprunt as a member of the armed guard. MEL
Re: Remembering
Posted by Al Burnham on February 15, 2012, 1:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering" 69.12.238.164
No foul ball hit Fran. It was a home run as you made us all think back to those days. No matter what war or conflict you participated in. ---Al
Re: Remembering
Posted by Francis Kent on February 15, 2012, 2:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Remembering"
Many thanks for the kind words, Al. The watches I stood weren't in a gun tub but mostly in a relatively warm and dry radio shack. Still, although I was a radioman, I stood many a signal watch on the flying bridge. Roy knows what that was like. -- Fran
