Still Drab Green (poem) by J. W. Murphy on AuthorsDen

Still Drab Green
by J. W. Murphy → (All Poetry by J. W. Murphy)

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It's been six years--six years! On one hand it's hard to fathom and on the other it feels like a decade has passed since that day in Alabama when I boarded the bus that took me away. Here I am still--still in green, something I did not want to see. I wished only to serve the four year sentence that I willfully signed up for. After all, that drab green life just doesn't suite mine--forest green and blue. I'm too much of a loner and independent to deal with regulations and curfews on my life. Who would? after so many years. But here I still am after all these years wasting away in a life not mine in a world far away wondering why. Why, am I still in the Army? Why did I come seemingly out of retirement, for so it seemed after leaving it for a while only to come back, and endure, and deal again. Now I have no choice but to stay in, after all the country is at war but I am not. Still, I must stay, wondering why. If I were at war it would make sense-- atleast I'd be doing something worthwhile. After all, that is the only time most people find worth and direction in the Army. It is the only time one does their job-- really, for a real reason, in a real situation. Anyways, here I am after six years-- dealing with a curfew as a grown man, here I am wasting away in drab green when I'd rather be enjoying life more, with no restrictions in the personal realm. I must endure longer, deal longer-- two more years and maybe I can leave-- maybe then I can move on in life from six years of life enveloped in drab green.
*Sep. 23, 2002. I put this in as mainstream as I don't think that it embodies the traditional sense of the military category.

Reviewed by Vicky Jeter

Reviewed on September 23, 2002

J.W.
This is very meaningful to me, too.
The part that struck me, "war is the only time we're doing our job," Please know that in truth our Military serves us at least as importantly in that it is because hostile
potentials of the world know you stand guard
that they do not act on foolhardy whims of
opportunity to attack us. May you be guided and guarded and always know the value of every hour of your service. Vicky

Reviewed by Karla Dorman, The StormSpinner

excellent...thank you for serving our country and for preserving its freedoms...i wore fatigues, too (drab green)--served my time in the air force...thanks for the memories! (((HUGS))) and love, karla. :)

Reviewed by Calendula Petal (Reader)

now this was a moving story, well to me it was, makes me want to write you a penpal letter and send you a big cake. 2years isnt that long, chin up and start writing down everything you are going to do when you get out.