Terry D. Sutherland

NIGHT SKIES

In the night skies over an embattled land
When the moon is gone and fighting’s at hand
A dragon called Puff instills fear with its brand
A solid red arc and a burning light band
A continuous groan with only one tone stops the enemy plan

When the engagement has stopped and it’s safe to stand
The only sound heard are the belt links falling to land
And you know as you watch that the cannon is manned
By a soldier too young to have such a callused hand

And when Puff returns to a safe place to land
The soldier and cannon are still in Vietnam
But he’ll sleep tonight in a bed not so grand
Knowing that this wasn’t a one night stand

©Copyright April 20, 2007 by Terry Sutherland

Puff the Magic Dragon (Vietnam mid 1960s)
One of Puff’s mini-guns in action over Vietnam - mid 1960s