Milt Saunders was raised in Hamburg NY. He is an honorably discharged veteran and a retired physician who has spent the last several years trying to get his screenplays and novels published. He is a member of the Poetry, Prose, and Pizza writing group and he serves on the board of directors of the Hampton Roads Writers. He is a student of Shonda Buchanan (English professor, Hampton University), whom he credits as the guiding light behind the creation of this poem. This poem is about Milt’s best childhood friend. 

Herb’s Homecoming
By Milt Saunders

Herb sailed in on the Vietnam breeze,
Chute billowed like cotton around him,
He crashed on sharp daggers of bamboo.
Black smoke, yellow flames danced into sky from mountainside.
Lightning pain cried from bloody leg.

Shouts shattered stillness as deadly Charlie announced his presence.
Colt-45, two trembling hands. Black pajamas at forest edge.
Young soldier walked into gun-sights as finger squeezed … loud report,
Startled fear on dying boy’s face–time stood still
As they realized the folly of it all.

Then death rained down on Lieutenant Colonel Herbert C. Rice.
His life’s movie raced on fast rewind down a long spiraling tunnel to a
Waterfall of loved faces–into a whirlpool of sweet memories.
Cherished voices distant then, as he fell to the bloody ground,
A moment of sorrow … then, sudden night and a distant twinkling light.