purpleheartpoetry-blog - Tumblr blog

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"My Hell"

•••••••••••

This cruel world a dark, sad, miserable rock

Warmth only deep inside, in its unreachable core

Its feigning beating heart, cannot ever be sought

Any attempt to reach it, so much deadlier than war.

•

It's outer crust, a cold, baron conundrum of strife

Overran by hungry parasites, from its very start

Trying to feed off its eternal love they lust, not rife

This world seems so warm, this world is falling apart.

•

Simply a sphere of dirt, a rock all alone in space

Rotating constantly, never going any particular place

Satisfied that it's plagued, with pure hatred and haste

Satisfied knowing, it will end a horrific, tragic waste.

•

Each blood sucker, only here helping him or herself

Each parasite, convinced happiness is simply wealth

Each blood sucker, only out for his or her own health

Each parasite's morals, left long ago, on his or her shelf.

•

Deadly insects, sending thousands to die, for greed

Snakes slithering through grass, a sadistic sinful deed

Scorpions sting to cause pain, and make men bleed

Wolves eating one another, dog eat dog world they feed.

•

Nothing here on this cold hell, is nearly as it seems

Facades are selfishness, disguised as selflessness

False promises and fake morality, here it gleams

Where there's more good than bad, is only in dreams.

•

I am in no way afraid, to meet my final demise

Just one part of my death, brings terror to my eyes

My hell would be if my soul, was real and it did rise

Heaven my hell, eternity amongst you all, in the skies.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Copyright 6/23/2018

Gregory Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"See" (Full Loop in Iambic Tetrameter)

••••••••

Looks can deceive 

Deceive our eyes

Eyes can perceive

Perceive our lies

Lies versus truth

Truth can be pain

Pain let's us know

Know and explain

Explain why yet

Yet we have met

Met in these years

Years of regret

Regret so much

Much I'd now do

Do to not lose

Lose the old you

You I once was

Was in the past

Past is now gone 

Gone and so fast

Fast go the years

Years since my eyes

Eyes saw this world

World in disguise

Disguise was fact

Fact was untrue

Untrue that most

Most ever knew

Knew how to see

See earth for real

Real is the fear

Fear we should feel.

••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-9/9/18

Gregory J. Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

#Warpoetry #warpoet #combatpoetry #combatpoet #purpleheartpoetry

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"You or Me"

••••••••••••••••

Weapons at the ready

Prepare to now engage

Turn off all your feelings

Turn on all your rage.

•

Death upon your enemy

What you are trained for

To the cemetery

Walk him to his door.

•

Death is at your doorstep

Every single day

Every waking hour

Every lethal way.

•

It's he or it's you

Blood will cease to flow

Do what you must do

One of you must go.

•

Who's quicker on the trigger?

Who's more eager to kill?

Who's will to live is bigger?

Who's trained and has more skill?

•

Better him than me

I am going home

I will be more deadly

'Adios! Shalom!'

•••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright 5/8/18

Gregory J. Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Forever"

••••••••••••

The sounds of the war

the scents of war's dead

the sights of pure horror

the crimson blood red.

•

Forever to stay

Forever to be

Forever my soul

Forever in me.

•

Most will come home

Most will atone

Most all alone

Home feels alone.

•

Forever more

Forever the war

Forever my tour

Forever the Corps.

•

Forget about war

War you can't forget

your mind is a blur

But noone sees it.

•

You see different colors

Smell different scents

You hear different noises

Feel more intense.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-12/8/17

Gregory J. Fino

Marine Corps 0311

Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Next of Kin" (Realistic Fiction)

••••••••••••••••

I never got to tell you

Our baby, he's a boy

You'll never get to meet him

Our newest pride and joy

♤

We married one another

Before you went to war

We never even started

We're done forever more

♧

I found out on the phone

Late on Tuesday night

Your Mother sounded numb

She didn't sound alright

♤

Then I heard her crying

I knew it was for you

I knew that she was trying

To tell me the bad news

♧

Then within the background

I heard the Chaplain speak

I heard him tell your father

You'd be home in a week

♤

Then a low deep voice

An officer for sure

I heard him say "for freedom"

You fought and did die for

♧

The whole time I was silent

I felt our baby kick

My mind, it tried to fool me

"Could this be a cruel trick?"

♤

I knew this was for real

I knew I'd never heal

I knew the sad despair

I knew for life we'd feel

♧

In combat men do die

Not all do survive

As hard as we do try

This fact we don't deny

♤

God, tell me it's not true

God, tell me it's not you

God, tell me what to do

God, if not him, then who?

♧

Regarding our new child

He'll learn why you did go

He'll learn about his Father

Your sacrifice, he'll know.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-4/21/2018

Gregory J. Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

The brave Soldier pictured is SFC Ofren "AC" Arrechaga, born 12/22/1982, in Havana Cuba. SFC Arrechaga received American citizenship during his 3rd tour to Iraq. Ofren was tragically killed in action on his 4th and final tour, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on March 29th, 2011. Please note: this poem is NOT a factual account of SFC Arrechaga and/or his family's life, including his wife, also pictured. It is a powerful picture that accompanies a realistic but fictional poem, intended to add to the message.

-G. Fino

#warpoetry #combatpoetry #vietnamwar #poetry #goldstarfamily #realisticfiction #iraqveteran #afghanistanveteran #militaryorderofthepurpleheart

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Red White and Purple"

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Mix red and blue

Pour in some white

Purple's the color

Made if done right.

♡

Hearts that beat purple

Soldier's worst plight

Purple in war

Red blood in a fight.

♡

Purple war colors

Gruesome sad sights

Pray you won't hear

"Walk towards the light."

♡

Red-White-and-Blue

Blue-White-and-Red

Purple for those

Now injured or dead.

♡

If hit with hot lead,

The weapon belt-fed

A Purple Heart's coming

For your bloodshed.

♡

Pinned on your chest,

For "Military Merit,"

If Killed In Action,

Always you'll wear it.

♡

Rolling two dice

Will dictate your fate

If purple's not seen

We'll see your death date.

♡

Purple skies shine

From Heaven's gates

Its guards are Marines

Deep purple they rate.

♡

Purple Heart medals

Wear them with pride

Wear them with honor

For those who died.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-11/4/17

Gregory J. Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

#combatpoet #purpleheartpoetry #PTSD #warpoet #warpoetry #combatpoetry #purpleheart #combatwounded

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Once More"

•••••••••••••••

The urge that you have

To go back to war

That is what you want

What you do yearn for?

•

Yes it is true

I yearn for that drug

That sweet rush of life

I crave it for sure.

•

But forty-nine died

You need to atone

You shed crimson blood

Upon sunbaked stone.

•

A Purple Heart Medal

All that was gained

Onto your flesh

Hot metal rained.

•

Life's not the same

Not like before

Combat's to blame

Combat's allure.

•

I crave still to fight

Some say I'm insane

I say they are right

Now "lock load and aim."

•

Now, Give me my rifle

My orders please, Sir

I'll kill every enemy

Like I have trained for.

•

Thoughts, now abusive

"KILL-MARINE-CORPS"

Thoughts now intrusive

"GET-SOME-GET-MORE"

•

My tour was cut short

Wounds took me away

I think of "what ifs"

"What if" I did stay?

•

If I went back

I could find peace

Once more in Iraq

My guilt could cease.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-4/4/18

Gregory J. Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

trap myself in

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Invisible Wounds"

••••••••••••••••••••••

Invisible wounds

Deep in our flesh

Our scars appear healed.

Our memories, fresh.

•

Our Souls isolate

We keep to ourselves

There is no time limit

I'm past year twelve.

•

Alone we remain

Just digital life

Just social-media

Solitude's rife.

•

What's this disease

Brought home from wars?

Why are we plagued

From our combat tours?

•

So, is this the end

Will our lives change?

Or forever more

Our minds rearranged.

•

Know we are broken

We break, not bend

Know we can heal

Know broken parts mend.

•

Do not judge our actions

It's how we cope

Around our young necks

Quit cinching the rope.

•

With us be patient

Give us our time

We'll make repairs

Like stars can align.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-10/20/2017

Gregory J. Fino

•US Marines (0311)

•Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

Presswood People

The best place to be when you travel through time is alone in the dark.

I neglect sleep for fractured snippets of faulty conversations that nobody else remembers;

but I remember because those snippets fractured me.

I watch the people who were my age when I was smaller,

and I scold them for letting time chip away at their presswood bones.

Their withered faces scare the life out of me;

but only because the more they peel away,

the more I can see my own face underneath.

If only we had built ourselves up then with the tools we have now,

if only we had known what to say back when we didn’t say it.

I thought I hated family gatherings until they started getting smaller.

We only gather at funerals now.

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Trees"

•••••••••

A dead Soldier's mother

Cries for her son

He lived by her love

He died by his gun.

•

She knows it is true

Her life's over too

Her seedling came close

But it never grew.

•

Now a rope hangs

From a Holly tree

It represents wisdom

Perhaps peace for she.

•

Planted the cherry tree

Upon his birth

It represents happiness

And joyful mirth.

•

Eighteen years old

It had grown so tall

Her son did give some

Her son did give all.

•

Her life was lost with him

He was her life

Her days are now grim

Her depression's rife.

•

Attention to detail

She's fashioned the noose

Not from the Elder

She'll hang from the Spruce.

•

Together they grew

Their love was combined

Like pear trees good health

They grew intertwined.

•

Dogwoods bloom bright

Pink and pure white

Her son's now a tree

Starved of all sun light.

•

The red bud is shedding

Like tears falling down

Soaking the land

Like blood soaking ground.

•

The oak standing tall

Bows it’s mighty head

It feels death’s cold grip

Soon you'll be dead.

•

The Fir's furry branches

Reach out for you

Longing to save them

Death's aim is true.

•

Death came a calling

Just like a disease

War plagued her son

Termites, the trees.

•

Evergreens love

Ensure happy life

Life though was stolen

Left was pure strife

•

Holly highly sacred trees

Death is in the air

Together now forever

Two trees, in one pair.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-5/14/18

Gregory Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Combat Estrogen"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

Hell hath no fury

Like women who've been scorned

To men, who do doubt this

Consider yourselves warned.

•

Maternal instincts fierce

They're programmed to protect

Mess with Molly's loved ones

Your fate, your life, you're wrecked.

•

Ask any Marine

Will females shoot to kill?

The same answer they'll scream

Semper-Fi, they will.

•

Joe is in a foxhole

With Mrs. G.I. Jane

Forecast looking dreary

Brass storms with lead rain.

•

Misogynistic males

Who think women can't fight

Prepare to go "night-night"

As "Wook" turns off your light.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-7/11/17

Gregory J. Fino

•US Marines (0311)

•Iraq 2005

-----------------

▪Molly Marine: In 1943, in the middle of World War II, Marine Technical Sgt. Charles Gresham, a recruiter, needed a way to promote the enlistment of females into the Marine Corps. He decided on a statue of a woman in uniform. "Molly The Marine."

▪Wook: Derogatory term that some male Marines use when referring to female Marines.

#Warpoetry #warpoet #combatpoetry #combatpoet #purpleheartpoetry #PTSD #femalemarines #femaleveterans

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"God Country Corps"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

His helmet's on his rifle,

His dog-tags on its grip,

Marine, killed in action,

Until Valhalla-RIP.

•

His soul forever wanders,

Through the desert sand,

His body flown back home,

Back to his native land.

•

To Dover Air Force Base,

He's destined to first fly,

Destiny ensured,

He won't arrive alive.

•

From this sacred spot,

His home he will go,

Loved ones simply shattered,

Mendability unknown.

•

In shock, they remain,

His family and close friends,

They waved him off to War,

Their joyfulness pretend.

•

A Captain by his side,

His duty-detail-chore,

Ensuring total honor,

On this final tour.

•

The officer did well,

Expected, nothing less,

Regarding, he who fell

Closed casket would be best.

•

-Military honors

Bugles blasting-

-Folded flag

Given to his daughter-

For her lifetime

-She shall have

•

Taps is heard so loud,

Through Arlington's blue sky,

For God, Country, and Corps,

He'd fight-he'd fall-he'd die.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright 12/17/17

Gregory J. Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

☆

☆

#warpoetry

#poetry

#marines

#veterans

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Woven"

••••••••••

Wars have a start

Wars have no end

Wars tear apart

What may not mend.

•

Woven perfection

Shredded and torn

Every direction

Brand new or worn.

•

Live life in peace

Or in peace rest

Stitch every piece

Live life your best.

•

Needles and thread

Mind, body, soul

Make all repairs

You have control.

•

Your cloth the same?

Never again

How long it holds

That will depend.

•

Options are these

Be dead or alive

Patience a virtue

With time, arrive.

•

Short cuts exist

Slow down and breathe

Rush, hold your breath

Destroy the weave.

•••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-3/30/17

Gregory J. Fino

Marine Corps (0311)

Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Hold Your Breath"

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Weapons, their destruction mass

Get your mask, now dawn it fast

Mustard, Sarin, Chlorine gas

Take a breath, perhaps your last.

•

Perhaps formed with good intentions

But now give me your attention

Four formed Geneva Conventions

Ancitipate their circumvention.

•

Aftermath of World War Two

Two more treaties added, new

What nations can and can't do

Specific rules, how to kill you.

•

What's humane and what is not?

In war, where death tolls are sought

I've seen war, in war I've fought

Death is death, blown up or shot.

•

In every Nuremburg trial

Revealed war crimes sad and vile

Rules of war some would compile

With a "wink" a "nod" a "smile."

•

History repeats itself

Leaders crave power and wealth

Selflessness sits on a shelf

Greed surmounts, mans life and health.

•

Ignorance is truly bliss

Rules of how to kill exist

Dismiss bliss, believe now this

All things go, so to subsist.

•

Syria, the Nam, Iraq

Bio/chem, pungee spikes, fact

Treaties from Geneva lack

Everytime cultures attack.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright-6/18/2018

Gregory Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

[purpleheartpoetry-blog]

"Blackhawk Down"

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Two helos, they were hit

Both hit with R-P-G's

The third day of October

In Nineteen Ninety-Three.

•

Somali fighters knew

A ground fight would ensue

It's so hard to construe

That Mogadishu's true.

•

Our Delta Force and Rangers

Our War fighters, elite

Were totally outnumbered

And facing their defeat.

•

The battle, it would rage

Until October four.

A firefight like this not seen

Since the Vietnam War.

•

Find 'Aidid Mohamed'

Capture him alive

That was the main mission

It then was survive.

•

Only do the dead

See the end of war

The end was closing in

On many men for sure.

•

Count our killed in action

Nineteen troops lay dead,

Insurgents killed, three hundred

Probably more, it's said.

•

One hundred and sixty

All the troops we had

Two perhaps three thousand

"Skinnies" raging mad.

•

We had to then egress

A fact hard to confess

Our Soldiers fought their best

In peace now, nineteen rest.

•

For them, it is their job

To fight and shed blood red

They kept on going back

To retrieve each our dead.

•

Leave no man behind

Leave not a single one

No matter what the cost

It simply must be done.

•

'Aidid' did not walk free

For his crimes he'd pay

The warlord would be caught

The "Rangers lead the way."

•

The home of the true brave

The land of the true free

Army Rangers, Delta Force

Blackhawk Down, they'd be.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

© Copyright 2/7/18

Gregory J. Fino

US Marines 0311

Iraq 2005

#combatpoet #purpleheartpoetry #PTSD #warpoet #warpoetry #combatpoetry #Blackhawkdown #somalia