The Power of Poetry

The Power of Poetry 

Sarge: Sometimes he's a monster and out of control. She knows it's really not him. It's a part of his mind that can never come home from the jungle he carries within.  

My name is Sarge, and I did three tours in Vietnam, 1966, '67 and '68, combat infantry squad leader. At the end of my third tour, I was really frightened, had severe memory damage.  

For so long we weren't accepted back in the States and that hurt more than the Vietnam War did.  

Shortly after I got home, my mother took me to the VA hospital. They had gotten to be quite good at what they do and quite good for the veterans that come and talk to them. That was just what I needed. I was ready.  

Things really turned around. I found that writing things down that I couldn't really talk about made it easier on me. So, I just kept writing about more and more things till I got an old book full. 

I was kind of shocked to find out that it all came out rhyming for some reason. And I guess that's when I was starting to be a poet.  

So my poetry makes me have a purpose. It helps other combat vets being able to grab an audience's attention and hold it. That's a heck of a wonderful feeling.  

My wife, she's been my number one supporter for 53 years now. The VA helps combat vets, so I advise it. Now you can feel safe to go. It makes me feel like not a feeble old 75-year-old man.