1965 by bmac62
Open full image in new tab Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
1965
A shot rang out
Another and another
Strange sounds
Bang, bang, zip, zip, thip, thip, thip
I looked at him
He looked at me
Slight hesitation
Heard sounds, but couldn't see
I looked at him
He looked at me
Two grown men
Behind one thin tree
No cover for two
No time to decide
One mighty leap
A broad jump we tried
Splash
Water up to the chin
Just able to see
Safest place I've ever been
Hostile fire died down
Insurgents moved on
Fellow advisor and I
Knew they were gone
Now it was time for a laugh
Had wondered for years
What my reactions would be
Training and fitness trumped danger and fears

Comments (22)
Fab, Bill! I love "Two grown men Behind one thin tree". You appear to have survived this war rather better than some poor souls. Thankyou for sharing this 'adventure'!
Cool story Bill, Love to hear more. :)
At Thirty thousand I was cruising along I heard though my headset the danger song I tore down the river in a mad dash just as the good guys hit the river with a splash My main goal that day was to help my buds in dispatching the bad guys the weapons were not duds A wave from the river, a nod from my head I headed for the ship I was ready for bed.
Yeow!
Nice one Bill!
Great story indeed.
This is great Bill, well done my friend.
Bill, my friend! Laugh? Well, I'm not sure now I would thinking about it but maybe at the time. JEZZ! Dude! Brilliant and I bow bow at you and all who have done such thing where ever and when ever! Makes my ATC training look pitiful! Rob.
Brings a flood of memories. And tears to my eyes. You were there? You express it superbly with emotion and perspective, and an amazing ability to involve the reader. You weren't? Even more you have the empathy of a writer and can make me believe you were there.
Fantastic story and work Bill!
Excellent idea !
Bill, great poem and a great response by skipper62. I think the people that been there understand the story behind it. It brings back memories of being on the receiving end and sometimes helplessly just endure - and wait - and hope for the best, Sig....
very original writing and interesting reading
Wow, Bill, this is powerful stuff. You took an incredibly intense experience and pared it down to this very sharp poem!! Very well done!!
1965, the middle of the Vietnam war and the Watts riots in Los Angeles. Excellent image and write-up, Bill! I'm WWII Philippines myself. I noticed skipper62 trying to steal your thunder with a little prose of his own.
I agree with beachzz,"this is powerful stuff". The whole image is touching!
Oh wow! * applauds wildly * :) You really are a natural at this, my dear. Wonderfully done, and just look at the positive response you've gotten! I'm looking forward to seeing the results as you work down that list. You have an excellent ability to show us what you want us to see, and I'm glad you went digging for those old photos. The one you chose to accompany your poem is perfect. Welcome to the Writer's Gallery! :)
Fantastic Bill, you have me pretty speechless and I too would love to see more like this. Amazing to think this was all happening to you the year I was born my friend.
sounds like you it was a near miss, Bill. great story in poem
Where did that come from???..great pictures and now a poet!I can only imagine the number of tails you could tell (in verse or prose).This sums up a moment that must have encompassed fear, confusion,relief and joy!.As said above you are a natural.The picture is a perfect visual. You and Skipper should write a book :) I'd buy it. Hope there are more of these to come.
wonderfull written and expressed love that you write too many talented !! and have to love the year too ( haha was born in '65 ! )
wow! first, if this is your first writers' upload, you did a really fine job. Second, I take it you were in war...and this is a heavy evocation of a moment that seems like an eternity. it also sounds like what some of my special ops friends talk about, the kinds of missions they've been on and never forget. Very well done, very succinctly done. And it's powerful to see others here tell of their experiences as well. Powerful, and I bow to the depth of your experience...