I’ve a very good friend help me to save poems written on the International War Veterans Poetry Association – here’s from the Prologue to the first of the published books - chuck

Charles J. Ingerson

A BROTHER TO A BROTHER

Tony Pahl and Chuck Ingerson(Prelude: To Tony P.

Bound in hearts
a wound sharing
each word imparts
not seen wearing.
Boots put away
uniforms unworn
hoping on today
not again torn.
It’s thoughts oft
bridging this gap
whispers so soft
on the door rap.
Carrying to one
feelings of the other
something’s undone
a brother to a brother.)

Solidified

It isn’t touching
neither a weakness
memories clutching
humbled meekness.
Returning somewhere
trying to navigate
a faith to share
futures contemplate.

Frustration

Waiting for a wreck
crashing tangles
never to check
fate only dangles.
Often in neglect
political angles
leaving regret
lights and bangles.

Recollections

Not from the past
into the present
a future to last
tomorrow to resent.
Seeping away lust
feeling to rehash
inviting new trust
only then to crash.

Sadness

He’s not here
can’t find anywhere
do you see him
can you hear him
screaming his name
but he’s not here.

Memories

Flags and parades
chairs strewn about
papers and charades
none left to shout.
Finding older dust
uniforms just fade
weapons to rust
to rest thus laid.
Hopes once bright
carried far aloft
pushing the night
in memories oft.

Real

Something to touch
letting cool my skin
not ever very much
never real to win.
Wounds not seen
found deep within
bleeding and lean
in the crowds din.

Frightening

Spacing into frantic
allowing in the fear
remembering awe
so very, very clear.
Moments to give in
again trying to hide
frightening dreams
each night to ride.

Navigate

Charting a new course
finding each marker
avoiding the reefs
into deep waters
using the stars
colder the sky
asking me why
clinging to hope
shattered in light
waves dwarfing all
clouds hide the sun
winds increasing force.

Knowledge

Build
reject
build again
reject again
begin all over
begin all over
begin all over
how can this be
where to go next
fighting so inside
fighting so inside.

Unable

No more found
not looking
unable
can
anyone
not looking
understand

To Grasp

Ingrained a strength
which sweeps within
blood to flow at length
finding the Wall thin.
Feeling hands to hold
old friends calling out
to grasp from the cold
giving us a redoubt.

Faith

One more day
another night
one more stay
another fight.
Never letting go
finding in faith
able to grow
now in faith.

(Epilogue: A Brother

Guessing each alone
could stand the test
and a message to loan
if numbers impressed.
There together bound
one upon the other
in sequence found
a brother to a brother.)

©Copyright January 2, 2005 by Charles J. Ingerson