Flashbacks

Flashbacks

I am hideous, I am obscene
I am uncouth, I am unclean
Look at me, if you can
This is me, a broken man

Broken by death, daily faced
When in Vietnam, I was placed
Friends I lost, forever haunt
Horrors I saw, forever taunt

The Viet-cong were clever, they were cunning
I am sure they could smell us, when we were coming
Hiding behind bushes, in the shortest of grass
They would mow us down, as we tried to pass

Our B fifty twos, would bomb daily
Napalm being used, widespread and freely
Burning right through, layers of skin
A sight to behold, a sight so sickening

I myself was captured, imprisoned in Hoa Lo
What we prisoners went through, you’ll never know
Bones shattered, beaten with clubs, black and blue
One of their many tactics, in questioning you

Eventually freed, I was returned to my home land
A heroes welcome, people would understand
My purple heart, worn with such pride
While so much disgust, I felt deep inside

Treated like an animal, homeless, unemployed
I was only doing my duty, when we were deployed
Scum of the earth, of society, is what I appear to be
Living my life of destitute, with flashbacks of insanity