Inspired by the Silence

By Jon M. Christenson

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 8, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450007726

Jon M. Christenson

Brief History about Jon M. Christenson I was born into a very large family. I have nine brothers and three sisters. Only eight of my brothers are still living. Raymond, the oldest, was killed at the age of nineteen while he was serving in the United States Marine Corps. It was because of his death I made the decision to enlist in the Marine Corps; when I graduated from High School. Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s I wrote down my thoughts concerning the world around me. Eventually my words took the form of poetry. While serving as a United States Marine during the Vietnam War, I began to write my thoughts and feelings about my experiences. It seems that I came out of that war with a deep sense of loneliness. Through the years I have matured and come to appreciate life and myself especially. As I have learned to love myself, I was able then to love others. I Love My God, Family, and Country. I would do anything my Country asks of me. I am so proud to be an American. The stories I have written are taken from my own life experiences and from stories that were told to me by other Marines and friends. My poetry is just the product of something that comes naturally. I get real strong feelings that sometimes wake me in the night and I need to write those feelings down. I write poetry about several different subjects: Love and Romance, Religious and Spiritual, and Patriotic. When I was fifty one years old I return to school and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. So many things and people have touched me in my life. Some have made me stronger. Some have taught me about love. Sometimes I stop and wonder where my poetry comes from. But I know deep inside that my God has blessed me with the abilities I have for story telling and writing. In addition to my writing I also have a small business making wood crafts.

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Copyright © 2010 by Jon M. Christenson.

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Contents

Jessica

A Rose left at the Wall

My Memories

John Michael Christensen

Margie’s Poem

This Hallowed Ground

Bitterness in a Heart

The Garden Of Stones

Prisoner of the War

Valentine

A Poem for Sheila

Bitter Memories

Troubled Mind

The Evening Sun

Divest of His Honor

Jesus Prayed

In the Pines

Images in His Mind

Begging for Peace

Everyone around Her Knows

Hopes, Wishes and Dreams

Dreaming About Christmas

A Warriors Prayer

As You Grow Old Together

My Friend Mackenzie

When I Count My Blessings

No Time to Say Goodbye

Friendship

Sara’s Smile

The Chapel

Innocence Behind

The Unknown Author

Was It Love

The Blue Star Turned To Gold

Searching For Peace

When I Find Peace One Day

I Had Dreams

A Blessed Christmas

Marine

Images

I Will Wait For You, My Love

The Veteran’s Bond

True Sight

Hope

When My Thoughts Turn Toward September

Cynthia

Inspired by the Silence

Saluting Our Heroes

A New Rose Grows

Never Be the Same

Why Them

The Veterans Friend

Ode to Clint Hoferman

A Salute to a Fellow Marine

With My Pen

Someone Always Asks Me Why

A Good Friend

Carolyn A True Veteran’s Friend

Living on Borrowed Time

A Christmas Prayer

War Cloud

The Green Book

Starlite At Chu Lai

America Many-Nations

Poker Night

Memories Blacked Out

The Lunch

Michael’s Memories

Jessica

(America’s Bravest)

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One of America’s bravest, Jessica went off to war

No doubt in her mind, what it was all for

To bring freedom to people, she never knew

Though different from her, her heart innocent and true

Ambushed and captured, became a prisoner of war

Beaten and abused, sleeping on a dirt floor

Not broken of spirit she fought to be free

Keeping faith in her God and love of Country

Jessica is now free, and home once again

America’s new hero, freedoms true friend

One of America’s bravest, Jessica went off to war

No doubt in her mind what it was all for.

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A Rose left at the Wall

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I walked to the wall, as the day was drawing to a close

Finding a name chiseled on the wall I placed there a red rose

More than thirty years have passed, since I was in my youth

I search my memory for answers, and pray for some truth

Why did my friends die, why was my life spared?

So many were so angry, no one seemed to have cared

Strangers spat upon me and shouted obscenities

who were we to call our enemies?

For Billy, John, Bob and Ray

A rose I left at the wall, for you my friends I pray

did you find favor, with the Lord Above?

Do you guard the gates of Heaven, with never ending Love?

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My Memories

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I glance across the room as I think I see your face

Then I realize you are gone and nothing could ever replace

The love and all the joys and memories through the years

The memories that fill my heart and will sometimes bring the tears.

As night falls I reminisce of how a day would begin

I recall how together we would go and the many places we have been

I think of those past days I begin to visualize

I see your face then get a chill and tears fill my eyes.

Some days we’d go to auctions or maybe just for walks

We might ride the horses through the fields and have some special talks

I have a million memories to recall in days to come

So I’ll cherish all my memories till the Lord calls this Farmer home.

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John Michael Christensen

(Panel 02W-Line 135)

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John Michael Christensen, panel 02W-Line 135

This name upon the wall, is just like mine

We fought in Vietnam, but only I came home again

To fight with the nightmares and endure the pain

The flag of our nation waves in the breeze

I touch the name, and fall to my knees

Praying for strength to carry on once more

And put behind the memories of war

I make a living with words and rhyme

Remembering the sacrifice of John, Panel 02W-Line 135

His body was never recovered, from where he fell

And I live with memories, to horrific to tell.

Casualty was on Dec 08, 1978 NORTH VIETNAM

Hostile, died while missing

FIXED WING-CREW

AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND

CAPT-03-Marine Corps-Reserve

25 year old Single, Caucasian, Male

Born on Aug 19, 1946

From OGDEN, UTAH

His tour of duty began on Apr. 13, 1972

Body was not recovered

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Margie’s Poem

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A sign that reads Margie’s Goodies, hangs by her door

But beyond the walls, you find much more

She makes cookies, cakes, candies, and such

With loving care and masters touch

Sewing beautiful quilts upon request

As she remembers her life and how she’s been blessed

Her cup of blessings just overflows

As the love in her heart just grows and grows

The wife of a Veteran, sister and mother too

Her patriotic spirit, just seems to shine through

A love for God and Country that you hear in every prayer

Like a secret to life she’s willing to share

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This Hallowed Ground

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Standing upon this hallowed ground

Rifles fire a salute and Taps echoes its lowly sound

I pay respect to a friend of mine

My body trembles as chills go down my spine

Recalling a Marine, much bigger than life

He did his best through trouble and strife?

A veteran of two wars, Korea and Vietnam

So proud to be a part of his Uncle Sam

This Marine taught me all about honor

To love my God above all others

Believe in yourself and what you can do

And always to yourself be true.

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Bitterness in a Heart

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Where there is bitterness in a heart,

It becomes hardened and cold

And before ones time they become feeble and old

Anger will cloud the mind and weaken the soul

Evil thoughts and deeds will then take control

You will go through life only to exist

And when someone touches you with kindness, you still resist

Your heart is so cold tired and weak

You will never listen, when words of love speak

You keep thinking there is plenty of time to change

That all mistakes you could re-arrange

But one more day could be too late

You can never be certain of your fate

Why not mend that bridge right now

Just call on the Lord, to show you how

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The Garden Of Stones

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This garden of stones is so silent and still

Many thoughts come to my mind and bring a sudden chill

A final place to rest for those we love

And perched on a cedar limb is a pure white dove

Standing vigil is a statue of an unknown soldier

And old glory gently waves in the autumn air

White grave markers in a perfect line

And thoughts of my friends fall gently on my mind

Leaves have fallen onto this sacred ground

Seven rifles fire and in the distance, taps echoes its lowly sound

A final tribute to a friend of many years

I fold my trembling hands and wipe away the tears.

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Prisoner of the War

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She misses how he held her, when the thunder and lightning came

Remembering with a tear, the day she took his name

She in a