BUDD NEASE POETRY
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BUDD NEASE POETRY
When the poetry was on our original website, each poem had its own page and a wonderful background picture to go with it. These different backgrounds images on websites have since gone "out of style" but were missed by many people. So, in bringing back the poetry, I have included the original background that appeared with each poem back in 1999. Enjoy!
All poetry on this page is the property of I. B. Nease, USNR Retired, and may not be reprinted or used for any purpose without the written consent of the author.
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My Buddies and Me
We're down in the mess deck finishing breakfast.
Dressed in our whites ready to go on Sunday liberty, my buddies & me.
It's just a few more minutes now until "Colors"
then a launch across the harbor and a bus into town.
Today is a special day for my buddies & me.
I'm really looking forward to this day's liberty.
Many of us will go our separate ways today, but not us, we'll be together,
my buddies & me.
What was that explosion - - what was that jolt?
What's happening - - WHAT HAPPENED??!!
Silence now - - we're here in the mess deck,
my buddies & me.
How long has it been - - an eternity?
We're still in our whites now soiled and ragged by our blood, fuel oil amid the toll of the sea.
I wish we could have made our Sunday liberty.
I would have been nineteen today.
Mom and Pop don't grieve for me - - a battleship sailor is what I wanted to be.
Skeletal hands entwined in our grave at the bottom of the sea.
Hey it's me, it's me and my buddies and me!
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED
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Voices from the Arizona
Welcome aboard my friend
I heard this distant voice say.
Welcome aboard my friend
Visit with us today.
This is our home my friend
We have "lived"; here over 50 years.
Don't feel ashamed my friend
If you shed a tear - -
We are at peace now
with one and all.
Now my friend look over there at the marble wall.
My name is there with Sam and Paul.
We were sailors and Marines - -
Those who gave their all.
Wait before you go my friend
I know your visit is over.
We hear of another wall
With over 57,000 names in all.
We thought our names engraved upon our marble wall - -
Would stop this madness once and for all.
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED
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A Faded Rose
Someone left a white "Teddy" sitting close to me.
He wears a decorated field jacket
Holding a flag and faded rose.
A baseball is placed between his feet
A game I loved to play.
Someone left this Teddy close to me.
He seems to be the symbol of innocence
that once was me.
We were just kids, off to war
Kids we are evermore.
We answered our Country's call
Just Nineteen when I gave my all.
Who is this Teddy, holding a faded rose
Is he one of us - -
A Name upon the wall - -
Who is he - - Is he me?
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED 10-99
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A CHRISTMAS PRAYER - 1966
CHRISTMAS EVE USA -
A CHILD'S PRAYER
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take,
God bless you Santa.
CHRISTMAS EVE VIETNAM -
A MARINE'S PRAYER
Now I lay me down and try to sleep,
My Buddy said first watch he'll keep,
And if I wake to dawn's first light,
Thank you Lord - -
I survived another night.
God bless you my Buddy.
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED
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TO DINK
To Dink,
Goodbye Dink. Sorry I won't see you anymore - -
to play with you and your favorite toy.
Today Dink, I was called away to this far off distant shore,
I'll be alright Dink, I'm with the Guys - -
For today we sleep within these waters six fathoms deep.
Well Dink, I cannot say much more - -
Today was the start of a terrible war.
We were just kids Dink, and thousands more - -
will join us on this far off distant shore.
Well Dink, I'll look for a little niche upon this distant shore.
Where a sailor and his dog will be together ever more.
Bark Dink...Bark a special bark for me once more - -
Till we meet again on this "Shining Shore."
In Memory Of: Clyde Richard Williams
MUS 2/C USS Arizona
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED
Clyde Richard Williams was a member of the USS Arizona Band. Clyde left his home in January, 1941 leaving behind his Mother, Father, sister-Molly and his dog "Dinky." Every letter Clyde sent home ended with, "Take care of Dink!" Clyde Richard Williams died on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 along with the entire band at their battle stations in the ammunition hold.
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SOUNDS OF SILENCE
I came to visit you today.
As I do each year on this day.
When I dropped the flowers to the waters beneath where you lay,
I thought I heard a band begin to play.
Soft, so very soft, almost silent to my ears
How many times have I cried these thousand tears?
As the flowers drift above your grave
A little prayer to you I gave.
I dried my tears and turned around --
No one heard that -- silent sound.
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED 3-99
Dedicated to the Members of Band #22 (USS Arizona)
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Reunion
Machine guns
You'll hear no more
Or the deafening cannons
roar.
Choppers overhead
picking up the wounded
the dead.
It took years to come here
But today on crutches
I stand proud and tall.
To again be with you -
You, who gave your all.
I'm here today
because of a name
engraved upon the wall.
With tears and trembling hands
I trace his name
Upon this precious wall.
For me he gave his all.
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED 10-99
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Paying Respects
They come here for many reasons
Many from around the world.
To some another tourist attraction
Another place to go.
They look down upon her deck
to see those fuel oil bubbles
Her last "life's blood" burst upon the surface
in the colors of reds, greens and blue.
It's her last blood along with that
of her crew.
We see a young Mother
with a child tugging at her hand.
He wants to go, he doesn't understand.
There's nothing here for him - - no Mickey Mouse or
Teacup rides.
We see an elderly gentleman sitting off in quiet solitude.
Head bowed in hands upon his cane.
In prayer - for someone so long ago.
A name upon the wall
The last days visits over
The old man shuffles down the ramp
turns around and gives a long slow salute
as he has done so many times before.
Wait, what if - -
He could spend another night with her
and her gallant crew
As he did a young man those many years before.
What if he again could walk her decks
to see the sunset, the tide lapping against her side.
To hear the whisper of their voices upon the evening breeze.
Calm and restful now at peace.
He'll stand upon her decks again
as her crew sleeps below
He hears the sounds of taps,
echoing 'cross the harbor.
For many their last night - -
Their last day of peace.
Yes, someday he will join them
the gallant, the brave
Within their - ARIZONA grave.
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED
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THE UTAH
A Poem By I. Budd Nease, USNR Ret.
A ship named the Utah
Laying on it's side
58 crew dead inside
Heroes gave their lives that day
So other men could get away
A Chief named Peter Tomich remained aboard.
For his action he received the Nations highest award.
© I. BUDD NEASE, USNR RETIRED 08-00
Visit the USS UTAH website
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