Writing after war is an act of courage and faith. When the act or art of quiet contemplation can too often lead down rabbit holes a veteran would rather avoid, or that he or she knows will be difficult to get out of, it is easier to turn to some kind of noise instead. James Raab takes on the challenge with skill and elegance in his poem “Conscientious Observer.”
Conscientious Observer
To someone that is not anybody.
In a world that is lost in space.
What it means to be somebody.
That seeks the truth in any case.
To have lived a hard life and still able to be kind.
To know the truth with a soul that cares.
To know the ease of a mind that is blind.
To be the one the grins and bears.
To understand the timelessness of our universe.
And still visit that moment called now.
To imagine the vastness one can transverse.
To be in the thick of it and be able to disavow.
To be a genius in some respects and an idiot as well.
To know too much and be able to do so little.
To be free as a bird but under the thumb of a cartel.
Been to both sides but stuck playing monkey in the middle.
When it’s not about how bad things are.
But every tick tock reveals even worse.
When every memory is just another scar.
And all I want to do is transverse the universe.
Life is an adventure guided by our state of mind.
Heal thyself and refrain from undo stress.
If not ahead we are indeed left behind.
Whom among us has no sins to confess.
It is said that ignorance is bliss.
Most of the world seems to dwell right there.
Playing battleship games of hit or miss.
Meanwhile, to be aware is to beware.
It is also said that history repeats itself.
From our past we see where this is going.
While truth is hidden behind a secret shelf.
Intuitiveness is a spiritual kind of knowing.
Measuring the ton of lies to the ounce of truth.
Seeing all the distractions for what they are.
Only evil or worse at the voting booth.
Intentionally our reality seems so bazaar.
To ever know it all, what more can I say.
Human comprehension is an infinitesimal fraction of reality.
You can repeat the phrase just by saying cliche.
To us that knows we are to each other an abnormality.
Say hello to Mother Nature and Father Time.
We are just a happenstance of cosmic stardust.
An egg and sperm process of an enzyme.
Spiritually destined for everlasting wanderlust.
He who hesitates is lost.
In a time that marches on.
Life is the salad we have tossed.
In an eyes blink here and gone.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
It’s not what we said but everything we did.
If there is a creator to answer to and He has his way.
I can only hope you made no mistakes or God forbid.
James Rabb is a poet and Vietnam veteran who shares his work at Legalalien https://jimraab.wordpress.com/legalalien/
James Raab served in multiple locations from 1967-1971.
James Raab, SP/4
Army Security Agency, 9/67 to 9/71
Ft Dix NJ, 9/67 to 11/67
Ft Devens Mass, 12/67 to 8/68
TRRS Petaluma Calif, 9/68 to 4/69
Ft Devens Mass, 5/69 to 10/69
138th AvnCo(RR) Vietnam, 11/69 to 11/70
509th Command Group, 224th Aviation Battalion
Fixed Wing, Beachcraft, Mos, 33-D-20, E 4
Saigon 11/69 to 1/70
DaNang 1/70 to 4/70
PhuBai 5/70 to 11/70
VHFS Warrenton Virginia, 12/70 to 8/71
Legalalien https://jimraab.wordpress.com/legalalien/