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Tunnels at Cu Chi |
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The dreaded tunnels of Cu Chi stretch long and deep
Dug into netherworld bowels, sneaky Vietcong to keep
Foxholes dug for men to hide in the bosom of Mother Earth
To give feared enemies wide berth.
The great tunnels of Cu Chi
Dug by desperate men systematically
Replete with clandestine sleeping quarters
Providing home-sweet-home for cunning rebel soldiers.
Secreted tunnels of Cu Chi devoid of light
Give sanctuary to camouflage foul enemies from sight
Dug deep within a veritable network, this subterranean haven
Where into living and fighting spaces fled the motley
craven.
The massive tunnels of Cu Chi hosted beaucoup below-ground
cities
Hidden from the light of day with all the civilities
Conference rooms and hospitals dug far underground
Tunnels rising oft to the surface in numerous spider holes
found.
The tunnels of Cu Chi were dug for the Vietcong recluse
To provide a place for these damned souls to dodge
fighting's noose
With Charlie ducking in his hidey-hole to escape withering
firepower
Here in buried depths malignant souls cower.
In the tunnels of Cu Chi the treacherous Cong lie in wait
For an unsuspecting enemy to take their dreadful bait
Virulent foes make ready to emerge from subterranean dike,
When they're ready hit-and-run from the heart of seclusion
to strike.
The tunnels of Cu Chi hid a wily foe rancorous
Clandestine Vietcong dug deep in their malevolence
Waiting to shed from pent up solitude attacks injurious
Hiding in earth's recesses to inflict wounds most
pernicious.
Into Cu Chi tunnel confines bigger Americans cannot go
Into the tunnel black like pitch pursue the cantankerous
foe.
Therein go men small of stature but big of heart down the
rat hole
A few choice men selected to ventilate the vermin soul.
Tunnel rats were deployed down the hole to sincerely
advocate,
To with subtle reasoning cajole...
Then Xin-loi, tunnel rats routed out the surly Vietcong assh___
uh, er soldiers.
Tunnel rats could not be stopped by the foul specter of
death
So taking what could be their last clean breath
These vulnerable men went running the pits of hell
Simply dropping from sight into the narrow, confining cell.
Grave harm waits just around each dusty corner precarious
All held in a teetering balance of life-threatening serious
Living with trepidation each flickering moment critically
dangerous
Heart pumping adrenaline surging on the ridge of life
hazardous.
Go down brave hearts, aware of stark danger awaiting there
Running tunnels a risk that prickles in your hair
But half brave, half dinky-dau, still into the perilous
abyss you go...
Chills running along your back in deep despair...
But bravery demands you go... legions of hell to dare. |
By
Gary Jacobson
Copyright 2006
Listed
November 24, 2010 |
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About
Author...
In 1966-67, Gary Jacobson served with B Co
2nd/7th 1st Air Cavalry in Vietnam as a combat infantryman and is the recipient of the Purple
Heart.
Gary, who resides in Idaho writes stories he
hopes are never forgotten, perhaps compelled by
a Vietnamese legend that says, "All poets are
full of silver threads that rise inside them as
the moon grows large." So Gary says he
writes because "It is that these silver
threads are words poking at me � I must let them
out. I must! I write for my brothers who cannot
bear to talk of what they've seen and to educate
those who haven't the foggiest idea about the
effect that the horrors of war have on
boys-next-door."
Visit Gary Jacobson's site for more information
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