The Okcitykid - A Peaceful Vet

From Mark’s Picasa Web Album

THE AFTER LOOKOUT

I stand back aft
Not knowing what time it is
Not knowing where I’m at
Its been some time
I don’t know how much further
Don’t know when I last
Had a chance
To rest
My insides empty in the dark of night
God is here
I’m scared to death
Ice flows down my back
Falling to the deck
I can only think of three words to say
God help me

By: Roger Harkness

**************************

This is a real life poem about my life in the Navy.  In a three section watch, you would stand watch for 4 hours and be off for 8 hours before you stood watch again, however, you also worked regular work days.  There would be special details (replenishment at sea and helo ops were the most common).  You would have general quarter drills and fire drills.  These things could happen at anytime.  So basically, you could go a long time without sleep and or only time to take short naps, but either way, you get real tired.  The first thing that goes is your sense of time.  Fifteen minutes or fifteen hours, you can’t tell the difference.  Yes it is weird.  Well anyways, in this poem, I was standing after lookout in the black of night trying to do mathematical equations in my head and couldn’t figure out simple math like four plus four minus four and it was very disturbing, crying out for help into the darkness, it felt like my creator was there.