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I was very honored to receive an award from Tony Pahl, The Aussie Bard. Please visit his great site http://iwvpa.net/jonesd/index.php for more of my newer work whch may not posted on my pages.
Poetry on this page from is Dec 10, 2005. Other pages below should be different poetry with maybe a few duplicates.
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/delabejones/page1.html (9/11 Memoriam) updated 5-18-04
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/delabejones/instant/memorial.html (more poetry)
To see pics of Ellis County Veterans Memorial in Waxahachie, Texas where two of my poems are inscribed go to http://www.rootsweb.com/~txellis/photos/veterans.htm
My e-book, "THE WORLD, WAR, FREEDOM, AND MORE" available for FREE.
(re: Vietnam, Gulf War, and all Vets, Native American, Trail of Tears and
Chief Joseph, ) available in .zip or .exe format. Just ask for it.
abeabe@bellsouth.net
New (old) book, "MOONTIDES, AND OTHER CHANGES" as well as "THE WORLD, WAR, FREEDOM, AND MORE" are now available for free viewing or download in text format at http://home.att.net/~abeabe/index.html.
Also have a new book, "OF NATIVE AMERICAN" available for purchase. $10 includes shipping.
I am also now collaborating with a photographer, Dominic Alessandra on a book of his photos and my accompanying poetry. It's about indigenous peoples around the world. The book is now available. Visit his site at http://www.paxcorps.com for more details.
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THEY PAY AND PAY AND PAY
The only ones who give more
For the high cost of Liberty
Than those we send to fight our Wars
Is the Military Family.
For a few years and sometimes more
They lend us their loved one
They put up with special hardships
Until the Service time is done.
It's what most of us won't know
Living that fear of every day
Praying their loved one stays safe
In some strange country, far away.
The Holidays are spent apart
Anniversaries will come and go
Some birth days are while they're gone
For children, some will never know.
Some lucky Troops will go unharmed
(At least, nothing you can see)
Some will be hurt and injured
And there's some, will cease to be.
The lone spouses tell their children
They've gone away, somewhere above
But though they won't ever come home
They will always, send down their love.
We owe all of those Families
Much more than we can ever pay
And especially all those children
Who'll miss their parent every day.
We should do all that we can
For all those who pay that price
And a Disney trip would be great
Just something we could all do, nice.
So get on the Snowball Express
And give some kid a special treat
Let them know we care about them
Though we can't make their lives complete.
Goto http://www.snowballexpress.org/what/what.html
11.05.06
GENERAL KATHRYN FROST 1948 - 2006
A LADY AND SOLDIER’S SOLDIER
When most think about a General
They think of Ike, Patton or Powell
But I had the great privilege
Of meeting one wonderful Gal.
I met her in Waxahachie
Where I was honored to be
At the Dedication of a Vet’s Memorial
Where they had etched my poetry.
The Pres was supposed to be there too
But counting chads kept him away
But the citizens still turned out
On a cold, cloudy, windy day.
I thought one of the highlights
Was Kathy talking about our Land
And the Patriots and Veterans
And the Military’s Freedom stand.
You could see she was a Soldier
In the true sense of the word
And her heartfelt, spoken words
The most inspiring I have heard.
She passed on in August
While at her childhood home
Where she still was rooted
After thirty-one years on the roam.
Promoted to the highest rank
Of Lady Soldiers when retired
She served our Nation proudly
And many people, she inspired.
A role model for all women
And every other Soldier, too
A Commander in her own right
With honors bestowed on very few.
As Adjutant General
A champion for the enlisted
And for leadership changes
Although there’s some resisted.
In the White House with Reagan
And with Bush number one
On the staff of Colin Powell
Just some of those things she’d done.
She saw the horrors of Rwanda
Its Refugees and genocide
And when she spoke of the children
And the mass graves, this General cried.
She was in charge of base exchanges
And was insistent on the plan
To get stores open for our Troops
In Iraq and in Afghanistan.
A Warrior fighting for the Troops
And won most battles that she fought
But then cancer came along
And all her strength and will for naught.
Much too young to be taken
Although she passed this final test
It’s a sad time for all of us
Because we’ve lost one of our best.
Married to a Senator
For only eight short years
And along with Martin Frost
There’s many, shed a lot of tears.
So, this Veterans Day an honor
For me to dedicate this piece
To that Great Lady and Soldier
And, may she rest in peace.
11.10.06
A NEW DAY
This Veterans Day is different
And our leadership is new
Let’s hope things will get better
And they do what they should do.
Maybe next year at this time
Troops will be home or on their way
Wouldn’t that be just great
For a really different Veterans Day?
We have lost so many people
Some will suffer wounds for life
With each and every Hero changed
By wartime’s pain and strife.
They have served without complaint
Some two times and some three
Much more than we should expect
From those who protect our Liberty.
Our Troops do what they’ve always done
When our Nation has a need
To protect our Country’s shores
Or some foreign one, needs freed.
Most everyone knows someone
Or has a loved one who was lost
And each of us must realize
That our Freedom has great cost..
Our Veterans Day is very special
A day to thank that special soul
Who will serve and fight and die for us
With Freedom’s Security their goal.
The next time you see a Uniform
Just take a moment to say, “Thanks!”
For our Country would be nothing
Without those Military Ranks.
So on this day, Two thousand six
As we Honor those who Served
Let us all strive to be a Nation
Where their sacrifice is deserved.
11.10.06
THE WARRIOR’S HOLIDAY
The holidays are upon us
And Christmas is drawing near
But for far too many Families
There won’t be a “Happy New Year”.
Their loved ones are off at War
In some far-off foreign land
Some of them are gone forever
Not at all, what they had planned.
Many of them, “weekend Warriors”
Who planned Serving in their hometown
Some promised one Tour of Duty
But sent for one more “turn-a-round”.
There are numbers to toss about
But to those Families just, that ”One”
As they Pray for a safe return
And the day that War is done.
They all go and do their Duty
Find a special camaraderie
Which only those in Battle know
Become part of their Family.
But, it really isn’t quite the same
Especially, on that Christmas Day
They think of loved ones back at home
Who send Prayers and Love their way.
Another New Year is coming soon
Another one we’ll be at War
And one more Holiday Season
That won’t be like it was before.
Especially if you’re a lucky one
Who doesn’t live with that haunting fear
Think of all those who Sacrifice
And hope it will be better next year.
If you know a Service Family
With either Blue or a Gold Star
Take a moment to thank them
Show them how grateful that you are.
When you see a Military Uniform
Proudly coming toward your way
Give a Salute, say, “Thank you!”
For the price they have to pay.
As we Celebrate these Holidays
Shared with Friends and Family
Remember those who went to War
So we all can have our Liberty.
Let us hope for an end to War
So that each and every day
We can rejoice and celebrate
The Warrior’s Holiday.
11.20.06
MORE IS NOT BETTER!
We have been at the War this time
Longer than that one in Forty-one
With maybe not as many casualties
But too many, more than one.
The right thing when we started
And sent Troops to Afghanistan
But then, we got our mess in Iraq
And have ended up an, also ran.
We should have gone on to Baghdad
When the World was by our side
When we were still respected
And our Nation was filled with Pride.
After the attacks on Pearl Harbor
Our People knew where we should be
There was no doubt, protecting Freedom
Was our Country’s utmost priority.
We had an Honorable goal
And the Truth (?) was known by all
Although we didn’t want to go to War
The Japanese at Pearl, made that call.
Sometimes there is no other choice
And no matter how hard we may try
We have had to send our young away
To fight battles, to get hurt, to die.
But, there’s times the Politicians
And the corporate powers that be
In their quest for wealth and power
Will gamble with our Great Country.
When they have spent all our resources
And put us all in hopeless debt
With no more to pillage from us
They'll try to get more from us, yet.
But this time they have gone too far
And the World will never be the same
In the end there’ll be no one to win
And no ending, to this deadly game.
Another, “Day of Infamy!” ?
Well, there surely isn’t any doubt
But, when we chose to invade Iraq
We forgot what that day, was about.
But, things being what they are
There's one constant to it all
We will always have those Heroes
Who'll answer our Country's call.
11.30.06
CHRISTMAS WITH THE STATUS QUO
We lost forty two in just ten days
With countless loved ones and friends
Who will mourn instead of celebrate
Past, when this Christmas Season ends.
That’s one hundred twenty-six per month
More than fifteen hundred for a year
If this trend continues or gets worse
It’s something, all of us should fear.
That’s not counting all those wounded
Plus all the billions we will spend
While we shake our heads and ask,
“Will this madness never end?”
If you don’t have a loved one fighting
It’s easier to just follow along
And even if you have one over there
It’s hard to say, “This War is wrong!”
Some will say it’s un-American
If you don’t want some more to die
Or say you don’t support our Troops
If you should dare to question, “WHY!”
Some say we’ll lose our credibility
If we should choose to, “Cut and run.”
As if they trust and like us over there
We’ll just make it worse before we’re done.
To date, almost three thousand killed
Twenty two thousand with the wounds of War
And countless more scarred in their minds
And we’ll sacrifice, how many more?
Fifty thousand, more or less
Of the Iraqi civilians dead
And are they worse or better off
Where would they be, in its stead?
Three hundred fifty billion spent
For the so-called freedom in a land
Where killing those who disagree
Is all, most those people understand.
Although it’s not very likely
We will ever be without War
Because of the almighty dollar
For that’s what most Wars are really for.
All we can do is hope and pray
As our history runs its course
But there is much more we COULD do
To have Peace, each of us is the source.
Most all of us will do nothing
And go with the old status quo
And unless we try to change things
We will surely never, ever know.
So, this Christmas Season send a wish
To each and every Hero over there
That next year at Christmas time
They’ll be back home with those who care.
12.11.2006
ENDANGERED SPECIES
Verses in ( ) are new and added
(I wrote this in the early 80s
And thought I’d add some more, today
As we still destroy our Planet
In the same, old, greedy, selfish way)
We talk about what we can do
To save what we don't kill
But I think we all know
That we never, ever will.
(Some inroads were slowly made
To save some endangered species
But all in all we all seem doomed
From the human being’s worst disease.)
We discuss all the things
That could and should be done
But it usually ends right there
Before they are begun.
(We talk and procrastinate
And I think it’s kinda strange
We know we should but never do
Those things we need to change.)
We won't waste our precious time
In our greedy haste
We will wait until it's gone
And cannot be replaced.
(We’re too busy with ourselves
And wait for someone else to lead
To change our ways of living
We’ll need to do to succeed.)
Then we'll bitch about it
Let another take the blame
And the worst part about it --
Next time we'll do the same.
(Some say we still have the time
To stop our self-destruction
And the release of greenhouse gas
Or at the least, some reduction.)
Some day we will realize
Though it will be too late
We're the endangered species
And have sealed our own fate.
(There are still some people
Some we may think are smart
Who say there is no problem
Can they believe that, in their heart?)
The world will be better off
Without the human being 'round
Without our intelligence(?)
Maybe sanity will abound.
(We seem keep ourselves at War
To control the flow of carbon fuel
And will never know righteous Peace
As long as the corporations rule.)
Maybe peace and tranquility
Will spread around the earth
Once we realize how little
We are really worth.
(Maybe when we go extinct
Nature will find a better way
To evolve a smarter, caring being
Who won’t be hell-bent on its doomsday.)
Let us hope we leave enough
To start some life anew --
That, we don't kill it all
'Fore we bid this world adieu.
Began in the early Eighties
Updated after some twenty pass
Will there be a time to write of changes
I doubt it, the way it looks, alas.
1980s and 01.08.07
CODE TALKERS
In May of Nineteen forty-two
The first of those Talkers came to be
At Camp Pendleton, California
They formed that special “Dictionary”.
During the First World War
When the Choctaw was used some
A white man raised on the Rez
Thought Navajo might be the one.
He’d served in the First War
And he knew we’d sought a way
To send messages amongst the Troops
That no one else knew how to say.
A code in an unwritten language
With no symbols or letter
That only those who spoke it knew
So, what else could be better?
Twenty nine Navajo recruits
Created each new cryptic word
Of Military terms and phrases
Not understood when they were heard.
The Talkers had to memorize
Each and every word to be used
Knowing they had the important task
Of keeping the enemy confused.
What took machines thirty minutes
Just twenty seconds with their Code
And those who knew Cryptology
Recognized this new inroad.
Around four hundred Navajo
Were a part of this unique plan
To speak and send those messages
Which only they could understand.
They were Marines of a special kind
And one of the Generals said
Without the Code Talkers expertise
Iwo would have been lost, instead.
There were many other Victories
Some, we’ll probably hear about
Probably, many more lives saved
They served the Corps well, without doubt.
Finally in Nineteen ninety-two
With half a century passed
Our Nation recognized their Service
And they were honored, at last.
There's an exhibit at the Pentagon
Now that their story can be known
It was secret for so many years
And now our gratitude must be shown.
There were really up to twenty Tribes
And each served in an important way
To help preserve those Liberties
That each of us enjoy today.
01.29.07
MEANS TO AN END?
Some will say, People for Peace
Who only want the War to end
Are bad for the Troops morale
And the wrong message to send.
But, who more than those Troops
Would like to come home to stay
And not worry about shipping out
Once again, some other day?
They're not given enough credit
They know how the “game” is done
That sometimes the politicians War
Is not always fought to be won.
They know a vote on the Floor
Is not always, what it may seem
And sometimes they know to read
All the lines, and messages between.
Some say, “We can't cut and run!
We'll leave the region in a mess!”
Although, most would be better off
If, we'd just mind our own business.
There's not anyone, who likes War
Except all those who are getting rich
Off the pain and suffering of Heroes
Too bad, we couldn't make them switch!
Those who don't stand for the Troops
Are the ones who send them over there
With the false pretense, “It's best for us!”
But, they're the ones, don't really care.
Not all Wars have been that way
Some were really worth the Battle
But seems now there's a rush to War
Each and every time the saber's rattle.
If we really care about the lost lives
What better Tribute could there be
Than to try to get the rest home safe
And try some talks and diplomacy?
But it seems the powers that be
Are hell-bent to start another one
With some other World's Nation
Before their term in Office is done.
Once we were a shining beacon
Where the rest the World would look
For all the lessons in living Free
For, we're the ones who wrote that book.
We were respected by most Peoples
Before we became the World's cop
To force others to live the way we say
And, before too late, that has to stop.
They've been at War, thousands of years
So why do we think we're the salvation
We must start looking at our Homeland
And take care of our own great Nation.
We have our own People going hungry
Our old and sick go without care
And after we pay for all our needs
With what is left, then we can share.
Instead of protecting other's borders
We need to guard this Land of the Free
Keep all our jobs right here at home
Not export them to some foreign country.
We don't need to speak another language
Our kids need to learn to speak our tongue
We can't let our schools all be ruined
To try to teach some other country's young.
We can't be afraid to speak our mind
Instead of fearing someone may hear
We're not being politically correct
Could, cost our Freedoms, we hold dear.
But, back to our Men and Women
Who Serve and those who give their all
We must be sure a War is Righteous
Next time, we sound the Battle Call.
Sometimes, the means to an ending
Is not all that we hope it to be
And sometimes, to cut our losses
Happens, when we face the reality.
02.09.2006
A MILLION WAYS
It seems so, that now-a-days
Cards and candy and that stuff
Roses and other pretty flowers
Sometimes, don't seem to be enough.
In this age of self-indulgence
And going to all of those extremes
The true meaning of Valentines
Has gotten lost, somewhere, it seems.
We go out and spend that money
Or use that plastic, if we're broke
To try to convince our partner
To believe, love words we spoke.
But of all those million ways
Of those dollars that we spend
There are just a couple things
To make love last to the end.
To be a friend and confidant
To be there and to reach out
A look, a smile, a loving touch
Is, what it really is all about.
The cards, candy and flowers
And all of those other things
Will never be as important
As the love that the truth brings.
So, go out and get those gifts
That may bring a tear and smile
And then, all other days of the year
Just do those little things, worthwhile.
02.11.2006
VOICES FROM THE WALL
(the traveling Vietnam Veteran's Wall)
Many loved ones and friends
Carved in that cold, black stone
But, inside that huge Monument
We know they're safe and not alone.
There are many thousands in that Wall
And each year we must sadly, add a few
With the average age of War casualties
Twenty-three, and as young as sixteen, too.
Those Heroes who died in that War
Finally, given Honors they deserved
With the Memorial in Washington
But, with many spaces still reserved.
This replica, which travels 'round
So all people have the chance to see
To touch it and maybe shed a tear
About this era of our History.
Maybe there, amongst those names
You may have a friend or a loved one
You can make a “rubbing” image of it
And take it with you, when you're done.
This Wall brings those lost to us
A bit closer, and the loss more real
To those who didn't lose someone
And gives them too, the chance to feel.
Every citizen should see it once
To realize just what War can cost
Not in dollars, but pain and suffering
And all these thousands of lives lost.
Sadly, we are at it once again
And someday will need another place
Where we can etch names of those killed
Where other folks have names to trace.
Maybe someday the need for people
To fight and kill their fellow man
Will be replaced with World Peace
Hopefully, that is in, some plan.
But till then we have these Monuments
To show our thanks for those who Served
A small token of our gratitude
Not nearly what, they all, deserved.
So, as we hear those names calling
And asking, "Will you never see?
War and conflict aren't the way!
Just look at what, it did, to me!"
02.13.2007
PUBLIC SERVANTS?
Why should be surprised, again
That those who have all the powers
Don’t look down and see the others
From high, in their ivory towers.
It’s the same old, tired story
They say, “We just didn’t know!”
Because those who serve under them
Just failed to tell them, what was so.
It’s another case of Veterans
Of the Wars they fight for us
Coming home to be forgotten
By those, they’re supposed to trust.
They get tied up in the red tape
And then get shuffled here to there
Instead of being treated with respect
By those, who are supposed to care.
All those military bureaucrats
Twist the truth to find a way
To get out of those benefits
That, they once promised to pay.
Those “throw-a-way” Soldiers
Who have fought and paid our cost
Who then, look for decent treatment
Far too many times, are lost.
When they serve us, we love them
Our Heroes, each and every one
But, why do we forsake them
When, their fighting days are done.
Our Service People deserve better
Especially, when they come home
And their Families, all our support
So they know, they’re not alone.
We’ve seen stories about Fisher House
That’s more, the way it should be
Except for all heroes and loved ones
All of that care should be, free.
It’s a small price for us to pay
To all those who pay the highest cost
For us to have all our Freedoms
That, so easily, could be lost.
Just, another sign of the times
Of those who lead us off to War
Who think all the People serve them
Instead of how it used to be, before.
It’s about time, “We, the People”
Take a stand, and tell them so
“It’s the other way around!
You’re our servants, don’t you know?”
Somebody should be fired
Starting there, up near the top
And this mistreatment of our Heroes
Most definitely, must stop!
02.22.2007
THEN, THERE WILL BE NO HOPE!
(VT massacre)
If we don't change the way we do
And learn to do what we don't
If we can't each, honor ourselves
It's a sad fact that others won't
And there will be no hope!
If life isn't treated sacredly
And we won't care for one another
If we can't hold out a helping hand
To help each Sister and Brother
Then where will we find hope?
If we can't let our greed and hate
Be overcome with how we love
Then, it's not enough to say you pray
To some god somewhere above
Though, you may feel that may bring hope.
If we let our World numb our hearts
And our minds and sensitivity
If we think life is some movie script
Beamed out to us on some TV
And think it's all not real, we hope!
If we don't quit our pretending
That everything will be alright
That it couldn't happen to us
We will find, someday, it might
No matter how much, we may hope.
Though, there are some bad apples
Our young people are the best
We must all help their learning
So, they can pass this life's test
For, they are our only hope!
We are all our Brother's keeper
And all other people's, too
If we won't stop doing what we don't
There will be nothing left to do
And then, there will be no hope.
4.172007
EARTH DAY, 2007
We have “An Inconvenient Truth”
And Cheryl Crow traveling the land
With so many more celebrities
Who are choosing to make a stand.
There are scientists and politicians
And governments and some countries
But far too many of Earth's people
Who still do just as they please.
It seems all the worst offenders
Are those who have the most to lose
And all those poorest of this World
Do not have the choice to choose.
Our Nation's people and leaders
Those, who seem to talk the talk
For one lame excuse or another
Are those who won't walk the walk.
We can't count on our Government
It will take the individual one
To just do our own little part
If we hope for anything to get done.
Most believe in global warming
Some think it some conspiracy
But to continue the way we are
Is dumb and complete lunacy.
Americans are so wasteful
And we should all be ashamed
Of how we've treated Mother Earth
Since our wilderness was tamed.
With just some very simple things
And small changes in our life
We could make a huge difference
And help to ease the eco strife.
So this Earth Day make an effort
To make this World a better place
For our children and their children
Lest we destroy Mankind's birthplace.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE?
Where have all the leaders gone?
To the banks to cash their pay
Where have all the leaders gone?
To the greedy American way.
Where have all the leaders gone?
To be a front for businessmen
Where have all the leaders gone?
To buy elections time and again.
Where have all the leaders gone?
To their ivory towers way up high
Where have all the leaders gone?
To where they can't see you and I.
Where have all the leaders gone?
To the corporations for the perks
Where have all the leaders gone?
Not to public office filled with jerks.
Where have all the leaders gone?
None to be found when they are needed
Where have all the leaders gone?
To where warnings go unheeded.
Where have all the leaders gone?
To rape and pillage Mother Earth
Where have all the leaders gone?
Most of them to pimp their worth.
Where have all the leaders gone?
To wage war on the middle class
Where have all the leaders gone?
And other wars to show their ass.
Where have all the leaders gone?
We sure need some to return
Where have all the leaders gone?
To light the fires, like Rome, we'll burn.
4.22.2007
AN ANGEL BORN TO FLY
Commander Kevin Davis, R.I.P.
Let's all give a final salute
To the pilot of Blue Angel Six
One of the best of the best
Who do those great precision tricks.
They all know of the dangers
But know there's not another way
To get paid for the work
That's really their way to play.
Every so often the worst happens
And the World will lose a gem
But, they die doing what they love
When the odds catch up with them.
Some say, they are prima donnas
But guess, they have the right to be
One of those best of the best
From sea to shining sea.
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