Today, Awakenings is proud to feature Charles L. Mashburn, author of "Be Still...and know that I am God." Charles is a writer, author and blogger. You can read his poems, short stories and random thoughts at Marbles In My Pocket.

The poem below is of war, a war like all wars bathed in blood. Those that return home from war are never the same, some broken mentally, some broken physically, too many never again see the light of day. Those that do are haunted by images burned into their souls.

Enough said by me, let's turn our attention to Charles and his thoughts. . .

War is hell, and the Vietnam war was a different kind of hell for the men–some of them still boys–who went there. This is another poem about that war, inspired by Tim O’Brien‘s book If I Die in a Combat Zone. Thank you to all Vietnam veterans! We appreciate your service and sacrifice.

A Dog Begins to Bark

In the purest black of night

No stars, no moon, no city lights

Ambush is all but certain

Jogging from foxhole to foxhole

Grenades clumping at our belts

Then lying on our backs to wait

Hating the waiting, the wondering

Will we live or die

Not wanting to die in the dark

Moving again, making too much noise

Down a winding dirt road

A dog begins to bark

Voices speak urgently

From inside shadowy huts

As we move quickly past them

Moving in single file

Reaching to touch the soldier ahead

Fearing being lost and alone in this place

Zigzagging through graveyards

Dead enemies under piles of wet dirt

The man behind me emits a muffled sob

Trying to think of other things

The grouchy neighbor back home

Somebody shut that damn dog up

Copyright © 2013 C Mashburn

Picture courtesy of Google Images

Thank you, Charles, for sharing your inspiring words. I encourage everyone to visit Charles's blog, Marbles In My Pocket, for daily inspiration.