Danny O’Brien sat back in his chair,
He looked at the wall made of sand.
With his fine Irish brogue, he spoke, his voice low
“How many times in this land?”
“How many times have you seen this sight,
How often your feet in this sand
How many times have you taken a drink
At the oasis, dipped up by your hand?”
“I’ve been here too oft, for a man that is white,
The sun will burn one of my shade.”
I’ve come here whenever the boss said to come
Because of a commitment I made.”
He sat leaning back, and he thought for a while
There was a small squeak from the chair.
His shirt was covered in the sand of the land
The shirt of a French Legionaire.
“For twenty-six years, I’ve wandered the earth
To wherever there might be a fight.
I came here again, and I came here with you
In the darkest part of the night.
Why can’t we just go when it is daylight
Whenever I find I’m with you?
Instead of landing out there in the dark
In the city known as Timbucto?
“So how many times have you been here, my lad
In this sand pit with a gate?
I count up the trips I have made to this hellest of holes,
I count up to the number ‘eight”
So’ I’ll turn in my papers, and I’m done with the life
To no more wars will I go.
I’ll stay at my home, there in Castlebar
In the county that’s known as Mayo”
I thought back on the years that had come and they’d gone
I thought ‘bout war’s that I’ve fought.
I thought ‘bout the time that I have not been home
And my throat became a tight knot.
My fingers were moving, as I counted the times
That I’d been to this desert town.
As I passed six, and then seven I count
My brow became quite a frown.
“I’ve been here eight times, my ownself” I said,
To the Irishman there in my room.
“But, I’ve had enough and I’ll quit ‘er this time
And I will look back without gloom.
For I’ve me a wife, who waits there at home,
An’ a dog an’ got horses four.
But to be out here, in ol’ Timbucto
I’ll not do this crap anymore.
“We’ve fought the good fight, we’ve known some good men.
And some now sleep in the sod.
And some are someplace, we never could find
That’s only known to their God.
The next time I am on Ireland’s shore,
To Castlebar I’m apt to come
And find me a friend, an old Legionaire
And make him buy us up some.”
But it was time to go, so I pulled on my boots
And we walked the few feet to the plane.
We mounted up, my nine Legionaires
And I took off for Egypt again.
Then the project was over, I came to my home
And promised I fight nevermore
For so many had died, but nothing was changed.
The world’s just as bad as before.
For so many had died, but nothing was changed.
The world’s just as bad as before.
Enough said.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2022 10:40PM by hpesoj.
When you're wounded and left
On Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out
To cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle
And blow out your brains
And go to your gawd like a soldier.
Rudyard Kipling
For so many had died, but nothing was changed.
The world’s just as bad as before.
If only the politicians would act like they knew what the soldiers all seem to know: that war is hell and there's no changing that, for the good or for the bad.
Another fine piece of narrative, Terry.
shalom,
Peter
Hey, I already told you but I will say it again. Not bad for a rhymer. H.
For so many had died, but nothing was changed.
The world’s just as bad as before.
Unfortunately Terry, it's probably worse. A good read.
Les
whelp, you done good, real good.
(to quote a good man i know).
mitts
it is just as bad, but I will always believe that it would be worse if we hadn't done several of the things we did. This last project put a couple hundred thousand in a much better situation.
Oh well.. it's up to others now.
I share the feelings others here have expressed before. However, I wonder whether it is just an obligation as the speaker states:
I’ve come here whenever the boss said to come
Because of a commitment I made.”
or is it a personal commitment?
K.Q.
Near a year,, I missed this last comment.
I can answer that question.
Once when I was home we had a dinner party. It is in Oct 2001 and you can guess the subject of the conversation. One man actually said, "Why would those firefighters go into that building knowing it might come down?" Another guest is a retired captain from the Omaha F.D. He just looked at the commenter. I answered him, "Because they said they would."
Kipling, (quoted above) said,
There can be neither east nor west
Nor border, nor breed nor birth
When two strong men come face to face
Though they come from the ends of the earth.
It is a commitment that should be made in every marriage, and in every friendship.
It is a commitment to yourself. If you cannot do what you said you would do, then don't say it. That simple. Your friends will need you, if they cannot count on you,.... well that puts you in a different catagory
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2022 11:55AM by Merc.
Yes indeed. And it's a quality to be prized - to be able to be counted on to keep a commitment.
To quote Kipling again:
[www.kipling.org.uk]
This was excellent craft with moving
commentary that sang of Robert Graves'
wonderful poetry of WWI. Your understanding
of the interior mind of the soldier is
most obvious and refreshing. A very fine
write by you and an emotionally gratifying
read by me. tom
Thanks Tom
It seems we have been, if not now brothers.
I just might be able to get a first print Kim if someone is willing to pay for it.
A ripping fine tale Merc in league with the Masters
of yore. This wonderfully crafted narrative again reminds
me of Rober Graves' great "Fairies and Fusiliers". I truly
enjoyed the poem and its classic structure. Smooth like
a baby's tukus. tom
Gotta tell you, I miss it.
I'm sure you can find much that is enjoyable and worth your time...without simply trying to replace nostalgically what you have left behind. Maybe you could become a do-gooder liberal and help the world heal itself in our lifetime.
Cheers,
Peter
in our lifetime
Yeah, Terry maybe you better start in Pakistan and North Korea, then you could work your way over to Venezuela and finally come home to Patterson, New Jersey or East L.A.
Les
Pete,,, sure.But I have to shave myself.
Les,, Blackwater could take Kim Jong Sick with a flat bed wagon and a Louisville slugger in 14 days. His babblezillion man army might take a bit longer.
I prefer Afghanstan to East LA.. safer.
I prefer Afghanstan to East LA.. safer. (Guns anyone? [latimesblogs.latimes.com] )
Terry, a sad fact related to our current economic conditions is an increase state wide of violent crimes. Stanislaus county, where I live recorded its 15th homicide of the year, a 400 percent increase over last year. About 70 percent of those deaths are domestic cases. Many experts attribute the high rate of unemployment, currently around 16 percent in the county, to the rise in violence locally.
Another hot spot world wide that doesn't scare me much is Somalia. I think Gilligan and the professor could probably handle those guys with a good bow and a few poison arrows.
Les
The reason for the numerous edits is that the link was not working. I think the problem is fixed now.
Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2022 01:53AM by les712.
Les,
I haven't told everyone, but my last project was in Somalia. Go see "Blackhawk Down" (it is quite accurate) before you sell the "skinnys" short. Hard fighters. Few can stand up to a group when not a single member of that group has anything to lose.
We fixed a warlord situation in the southern part of that nation. Installed warlords that were friendly to a nation considered friendly to the USA. It was not the US and I was the only American involved, by the by. About fifty were killed, and many captured. The captured were turned over to a military force other than US. I'm sure they would have traded their situation for Gitmo. We came home with a full roll call. Until, and unless an Ivan the Terrible class dictator takes over Somalia, it will continue to be in the news. There are about fifty warlords in charge of their own turf. ala Crips, Bloods and Avenidas. Somalia will not overflow into London nor New York, but lots of folks are going to have short lives. I still prefer east LA to anywhere over there.
But for reasons I cannot explain, I do miss it.
"Once you have swung the sword above your head and charged the emperor, you are destined to disappoint your mother."
Emmmmm, that reminds me of a painting I once saw. No, no, probably digital art. A woman, dressed in a sneaking suit, midair,arms pulled back over her head, both hands gripping a single twisted dagger, coming down on a man dressed in the manner of a ruler. Got me hard.
From behind, she was coming from behind in midair, 45 degree angle really, and he was completely unaware, overlooking his empire from whatever lofty height his castle or temple or whatever was on, with a smug satisfaction on his face. And she.. well, she was about to be a very happy girl.
Terry, thanks for the info. The only thing I fear from Somalia is that an outside force comes in and causes those "with nothing to lose"to cross their own borders and mess with some otherwise peaceful nation.
Les
I concur fully with your last quotation, but there are probably many worse ways to disappoint your parents.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2022 02:19AM by les712.