Poem by: Jerre Divelbiss
E-mail at Jerre.Divelbiss@patrick.af.mil

WITH YOU ALWAYS

The battle was fierce, the bullet swift and quiet
Its aim was true on this, this long stormy night
And when the battle was over and the smoke cleared
I try to move, to free myself from the dampness here
I see other moving about and I shout out their name
But no one seems to hear me as I lay here,
lay here in my shame
And then out of nowhere, someone is leaning over me
Saying words I do not want to hear;
"He's gone, let him be"

People lift me, put me in a bag, zipping it tight,
there is no light
Later I'm in a box flying home to you, God I must be a sight
I see you standing at my open grave, but I'm silent, not a peep
Then I shout, please, please do not stand at my grave and weep.

For I am not there;
I do not sleep
I am the gentle cool breezes that blow
I am the diamond glint on fresh fallen snow
I am the warm sunlight
on rows of ripened grain
I am the gentle Autumn's cool cleansing rain
So when you awaken in the morning my darling, hush
I am the swift, up-lifting rush
of quiet eagles in circled flight
I am the soft star that you watch shining at night

So please, please do not stand at my grave and cry
For I am not there;
I did not die
For darling,
I am always with you!

Jerre D. Divelbiss
MSGt, Retired

Copyright© 3-21-2001 By Jerre Divelbiss,
All Rights Reserved

ALIVE

So peaceful a day, where I sat on the cool green grass
High on the mountain top, the air so clean
It makes my eyes wander around in search of nature’s secrets
So beautiful a moment, everything coming alive
Surrounding me, it blinds the nature by itself

So wily in style, like a picture only your mind can see
Yet you see it by eye, so modest of scene
Like all the seasons blended together
Yet there’s no doubt the differences of it all
Father sky is the clearest blue, not a cloud can be seen

The sun smiles down on Mother Earth and baths it with warmth
My eyes close and all at once my ears hear perfectly, not a sound at all
Its quiet, no more echoes weaving their way through my mind
Gone are the horrible memories of past strife
So wonderful here, so tranquil, my mind is peaceful at last
I am one with Mother Earth,
finally its great to be alive

Jerre D. Divelbiss
MSGt, Retired

Copyright© 3-21-2001 By Jerre Divelbiss,
All Rights Reserved

WAS I THERE

It was such a nightmare, horrors all around, but was I there?

I remember hearing my own breathing and my body ridged with fear
As bullets flew pass, singing in my ear
It was such a feeling, such a rush, but was I there?

We fought, some died, we lost friends...brothers
We all were brave, we all stood tall, but was I there?

So many young men, who’s names are on this wall
They gave their best, they gave their all,
But was I there?

My friends, my brothers, hear me cry, was I there?
This my soul wishes to know, as my tears begin to flow
Was I there with you?
Why was I spared?
My name is not listed,

Was I not there?

Jerre D. Divelbiss
MSGt, Retired

Copyright© 3-21-2001 By Jerre Divelbiss,
All Rights Reserved

FORGIVENESS

Depart you visions of war, bringers of pain
Cloaked in isolation, you mock me in harsh disdain
My soul is torn beyond repair,
I curse the day you entered my brain

You pierced my tortured spirit, what horrors I have seen
You speak of quiet solitude, to tempt me to act on what might be
Then you lanced me in my troubled mind, to the depths of darkness
Memories, I beg of you, depart my tortured soul, leave me in peace
Someone please help me fight these evil memories of war
With all my voice I scream to you,
help me through this night once more

Help my agonized mind not to heed the demon's call
At last, I can no longer stand the terrible pain
And I plunge into the shadowy parts of my tormented brain

Beckoned by my silent screams,
I see an image of someone tall
Inviting me to enter Heaven's hall
I journey to the light,
all is calm, all is quiet
I feel a warm touch
and I ask for forgiveness with all my might
Finally my mind is at peace.

Jerre D. Divelbiss
MSGt, Retired

Copyright© 3-21-2001 By Jerre Divelbiss,
All Rights Reserved

WHO CRIES

by Jerre Divelbiss

When they were born, their world was new
There were many things to see and do
But now as their short life might end here in Vietnam
I wonder, besides us,
who'll cry for the GIs of Nam.

Soldiers have come, and some have gone
Some have managed to fill their hearts with glee
But when their hearts beat no more here in this land
I wonder, besides us,
who'll cry for the GIs of Nam.

Many have found romance at home and took a spouse
To start their family tree
But over here, if their roots get pulled from the earth
I wonder, beside us,
who'll cry for the GIs of Nam.

They celebrate births and some share their joy
Some even managed to teach lessons upon their knees
But if their time over here is to teach no more
I wonder, beside us,
who'll cry for the GIs of Nam.

Bound to this Earth in human form
And over here in this strange land
Their souls may soon become free
And if that tragic day arrives
I wonder,
beside us,
who'll cry for the GIs of Nam.

Another day has come, some of our friends have drifted away
Their mortal existence shows no more pain
We cry with tears of anger and shout..... WHY!!?
Then out of the blue like a angel on high
A gentle voice rings out from the sky
My sons, I'll cry for the GIs of Nam
I'll cry!
For you!

Jerre D. Divelbiss
MSGt, Retired

Copyright© 3-21-2001 By Jerre Divelbiss,
All Rights Reserved

Poem by: David Underhill
E-mail at davide2@kih.net

I Came To The Vietnam Wall

Hello Wall, I've come to visit.
I traveled hundreds of miles
To see how I would feel inside.
I come cold, hard, and unfeeling
Just as war made me.
I come to look upon your cold,
Black face.
To see the names of 58,000
Young men,
All comrades of mine.

I see the rice paddies and the jungles.
I remember the battles of Khe Sanh
And Hamburger Hill.

I hear the screams of Pain & Agony
As a comrade falls,
His legs torn off by a shell.

I hear the whirl of a helicopter,
The screams for Medic over here.
I smell the stench of death
And destruction,
As though I were there again.

Not to mention the look
On a young Vietnamese Child
As its family is blown to Hell.

Will your thirst never be quenched?
If so, then why? Lebanon, El Salvador,
Desert Storm, and all the others.

And even as I stand here
(My image reflecting in your face),
You tear my heart and soul from me.

Copyright© TXV680503 3-6-95 By David E. Underhill,
All Rights Reserved

The Vietnam Wall

Hello! Yes, I am The Wall. You have heard of me I am sure,
You may have even contributed to my being.
I was built through contributions from our veterans,
From all across The Great United States,
To honor those who served and died in Vietnam.
Did you know I am 500 feet long,
Reflecting the longest war in our nation's history?
I have 140 separate panels, each for a particular time
In the history of that tragic war.

I am 10 feet tall at my tallest point,
Just as our fine young men felt tall as they answered
Our nation's call.
Less than a foot at my lowest,
Reflecting the feeling of our nation
For sending them.

I am made of Black Granite,
Black for the dark pages of history I reveal.
Granite for the strength and courage of 3,300,000 servicemen
Who answered their country's call.

And yes, part of me is buried
Just as over 58,000
Young men are whose names appear on my face.

Yes, I stand here Tall, Dark, and Majestic. But I stand not alone.
I am visited each day by tens, hundreds, yes, even thousands,
Who in some way are touched by my cause.
Families stand before me, with thoughts of that special one they loved.

Some bring tokens of rememberance, others flowers and letters,
While still others bow their heads in prayer.
But whatever their reaction, they all seem to have one thing in common.
They ask, "Why, Wall?"

I try to assure them, that perhaps it was not in vain.
That perhaps there was a reason, not yet revealed.
But that if for no other, then I am here
As a reminder, Not to let it happen again.

Copyright© TX3270302 3-9-92 By David E. Underhill,
All Rights Reserved

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