This made me think about my childhood and friends lost, not to war, but times that were tough in other ways.  Hmmm I've never thought me a poet.  but maybe....

Life is sure an ever changing adventure.

Poet?  Me neither!  (Goodbye syntax award!)  But give it a try.  I admit to being surprised when I did.  Who knew?

This poem wasn't supposed to be about war although who am I to say what a reader sees in any of my writings?  

Lots of changes in my life, too, and lots of unexpected adventure.

It's a pleasure to know you, Diana.

Lookin' Back

by Chuck Stromme

Clapboard walls
shotgun shack
gravel out front
weeds in back

Grew up there
couldn't stay
left home young
gonna have my way

Apples on trees
bees still buzz
rope still hangs
where the swing once was

Tire on the ground
water inside
seemed like fun
we'd swing and ride

That's my room
rear of the shack
pretty darn nice
when I look back

Listened to the radio
a mystery
or Grand Ol' Opry
on NBC

Man Jack Benny
wasn't he fun
or Marshall Matt Dillon
with a smoking gun

Got a TV
at the hardware store
had three channels
seven five and four

Hid my soldiers
in the firewood pile
found 'em again
once in a while

Catch me a lizard
with my buddy Tom
wasn't yet twenty
and killed in Nam

All of that's
a long time back
memories fade
then turn to black

What was real
what did I do
when I was dreaming
was it really you

All the mistakes
all that fear
all my strength
and I end up here

The nurses are sweet
the docs are kind
they talk about me
but I don't mind

I wake and dress
'most every day
walk outside
if I can find the way

There's cards and books
and folks to see
and Grand Ol' Opry
on NBC