ELKS

The gates are closed, still all white and tall.

A sign that says ELKS, the base we grew to love.

I see the overgrowth of trees and shrubs, weeds everywhere.

Nature has taken control. 

The main road is cracked and bare.

As it travels past the buildings we once shared.

I see the Headquarters, Brass everywhere.

The Mess Hall, the smell of food cooking on the grills.

The PX, Barber shop too.

I see the barracks where we all slept, called it home.

Partied and pulled CQ, the 0400 hour wake up calls.

The Parade field, it's at ease now.

No more formations.

No more baseball, football on weekends, evenings too.

The Motor pool, trks are gone.

Just an empty lot, with weeds blowing in the wind.

I can still smell the diesel fumes, as they lingered in the air.

Sidewalks empty now, remembering GI's going from building to building.

Be them privates to full bird Colonels.

The trks and jeeps loading up soldiers, going to work, maybe the medics or guard duty too.

Lights out in the buildings, no CQ.

No people on duty, as the base lays to rest.

Turn around to walk away, only memories standing there.

For the old GI's, we were Americas best.

Michael VanDyke @C 2023

A Distant Voyage

 Hear the voice, on that long distant voyager.

Does it come from inside, or what your eyes see.

The heart feels the words.

The ears, they hear the sounds.

Hear the voice.

Hear the voice as it calls.

What is your voyage, is it your journey.

The strings on an instrument, the ivory with the keys

Wave after wave of its influence, hammering your soul.

Your heart, the feelings

Does it bring tears, is it of joy, maybe pain, a memory.

The voyage has started.

What distance do you have to go.

Wave after wave, soul after soul

I see the voyager, it's you ...

Michael VanDyke @C 2023

Highways of Life...

 I remember when the highway was my home.

Two years of walking, riding, seeing new things, good and bad.

The hundreds of people along the way. Most were good, a few evils.

You taught yourself how to know the difference and fast!

I see the beauty the world had to offer, sometimes I seen the nightmares of life, the world had to offer too! 

Choices, it's up to us as people, to decide which we choose.

I've slept in jails, under bridges, in wheat fields, orange groves, people's couches, also back seats of cars.

I walked the Interstates, secondary highways, back roads, did it all.

Go days without food, then have times where I ate every day.

All about the times and where you were at.

I've met people that wanted to hurt you, I've met people that were kind and understanding, helping you as they could.

A place to stay, a drink of water, food, pocket change, a ride.

My highway of life had many roads I traveled, giving me the strength, I have, the blessings I have.

Thank you, Lord, for my protection, Amen!

Michael VanDyke @C 2023 ..

Cutting My Wings

 Cut my wings once

That I didn't like

I healed them

So I could fly away

They tried to clip my wings

As they did before

Don't reduce, restrain my freedom

Have to catch me first

As I fly away.....

Michael VanDyke @C 2023