Comment from lancellot

Excellent

This is very well said. For the life of me, I can't understand how no one knew. They knew of lung illness from burn pits back in Vietnam. I don't understand a regular person didn't see it. Smoke and fumes burning your skin and eyes. Just like cigarettes. It's smoke. How could that ever be good?

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 25-May-2023

Hello lancellot, The U.S. gov't
stopped burning garbage in
the 1970's. So how could the
VA in the 2000's after the
Middle East wars started,
say they didn't know if the
burn pits on the U.S. bases
in the Middle East were
causing our soldiers' sickness including cancers.
What b.s.! So many of our
soldiers died from the
burn pits diseases before
the gov't finally passed the
PACT Act. Thank you for
taking the time to read and
give my poem 5 stars. May
you have a great Thursday.

Comment from Paul McFarland

Exceptional

A rare six stars from me for this one, Regina. I'm not a free verse guy, but your message is too powerful for anything less than a six. This should do very well in the contest.

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 25-May-2023

Thank you so very much,
Paul, this means a lot to me.
Such a tragic loss of many
good soldiers. I'm heartbroken over it. I hope
you have a terrific Thursday
with much inspiration.
All the best to you. ~

Comment from forestport12

Exceptional

So many stellar phrases here, "like slithered serpentine," and "breathing in deep immortals from cinders." Powerful poem and fittingly so for those wars not long ago. You did a service with this.

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 25-May-2023

Thank you so much,
forestport12. This is a tragedy and should never
have happened. I really
appreciate your review and
message. Have a wondrous
and creative upcoming
weekend. All the best to you.

Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

Excellent

I'm sorry I don't have a six left, Regina, this is such a heart-wrenching poem. So many promises, non kept. Those poor men and women who had to suffer all this, and denied the payment promised. That's politicians for you. I don't know one I'd trust anymore. (UK Government) This is a powerful poem, my friend, well done, and good luck in the contest. :) Sandra xxx

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 25-May-2023

Thank you so much, Sandra.
This is a tragedy that should
never have happened. So very sad. Thank you for the
5 stars, and for your kind
and thoughtful review. Have
a wondrous and creative
upcoming weekend. Many
blessings to you. ~

Comment from Raul1

Excellent

This poem meets the requirements for the contest. The sentences flow with clarity. Excellent work! No mistakes found. Thank you for sharing! Good luck on the contest!

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 25-May-2023

Thank you so much, Raul.
You're such a sweet soul.
Many blessings to you,
thank you for the 5 stars.
I hope you have a terrific
Thursday. ~

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

I suspect this qualifies as free verse, being free verse means whatever you deem it to be but as I read it I felt as if I was reading a short story. In any regard, it was evident you're expressing what was writ was personal and spot on.

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 24-May-2023

Hello Tom, thank you for
taking the time to read and
5 star review my poem. I
probably should of penned
it as prose because after
reading it, it sure sounds
like a prose work. Some
people after reading the
details, told me they didn't
know about the burn pits.
Many blessings to you
and your family. ~

Comment from Gina Schneller

Exceptional

Hello there! As sad and upsetting as this poem is, it is reality and you have put it so well into words. "a pyro's dream, our nightmare." I love this... Thank you so much for sharing your writing with us all. Best of luck in your writing journey!

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 24-May-2023

Hi Gina! Thank you so much
for your kind words and
6 stars. I have been amazed
with the response to my sad
poem. Some people didn't
know about the burn pits
until they read my poem.
Hopefully the government
will finally take care of our
troops who earned and
deserve compassionate
medical treatment. May
you have a creative and
inspirational Wednesday.
Many blessings to you. ~

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

This poem, Cinders, reminds the readers that the reach of war is not limited to the country you are in or who you serve. The enemy can be the angry combatant, or the apathetic government.

 Comment Written 24-May-2023

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reply by the author on 24-May-2023

Thank you, Bill, for taking the
time to read and review my
poem. I'm hoping with the
passage of the PACT Act that
finally our Vietnam veterans
and Middle East wars troops
will be cared for. As you know, it took such a long
time for the government to
acknowledge that Agent Orange and the burn pits
caused our troops harm.
Many blessings to you &
your family. ~

Comment from Faith Williams

Excellent

While it is a sad and devastating affront by the US Government to those who served, I can't say I'm surprised. My father-in-law served in Vietnam, where he was sprayed with Agent Orange and dealt with the aftereffects for years before receiving any aid from the VA.
I think the lines that resonate the most with me are:
'Damn, Uncle Sam,
your misery is in your lies,
we were wounded living ghosts.'
Yes, Uncle Sam is an excellent liar, spreading misery in its wake at the expense of those who need the light of truth the most.
Thank you for sharing about this topic. Best wishes in the contest.

 Comment Written 23-May-2023

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reply by the author on 24-May-2023

Hello Faith, I'm so sorry about your father-in-law. The
U.S. government has a miserable history of victimizing our military. So
many brave men and women
who put their lives on the
line to fight for our country,
only to be betrayed by their
own government.Thank you
so much for taking the time
to read and review my poem
with 5 stars. Blessings to
you and your family. ~

Comment from Charles W. Johnson

Excellent

Regina, I feel your anger, sadness and frustration flow though your lines. Using the sickened soldier as the narrator was effective. This is an excellent entry for the free verse contest. Good luck!

 Comment Written 23-May-2023

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reply by the author on 24-May-2023

Hello Charles, thank you so
much for taking the time to
read and review my poem
about our poisoned soldiers.
With other people who have
spoken up for them, I wanted
to give them a voice. They
deserve so much more than
we can give them. Many
blessings to you. Thank you
for the 5 stars. ~