For Marvin Eugene Lively (JIM)
11-8-68
She held him tight within her
arms
as he broke down and cried,
while painfully trying to tell
her about
the night his friend had died
He hadn't known him very long
yet in three days had formed a
bond
And how it was, part of his job
To help this kid along
To teach him how to do his job
hauling critical resupply
through
jungle roads and mountain passes
So others would survive
He told her, how it happened
and of how he took the blame
and why in all of forty years
would never speak his name
She knew about the nightmares
she’d been with him awhile.
And she also saw, that there
were times
he couldn’t even smile
Also how he tried to drive away
the images that he saw.
Using anything to numb his brain
like drugs and alcohol
He told her of the death wish
that always could be found
How he wondered, would it be
better
If he no longer were around
Unable to control her tears
at feeling all his pain
and knowing too it was the first
time
that she had heard that name
She held him tight throughout
the night
as together they both cried
Now she too will not forget
The night Jim Lively died
AJ (Wayne Holtfreter) ©
8/11/2008
134th Qm (Pol line haul-‘68/’69)
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