Coming of Age

By MARIE DONOVAN

COMING OF AGE is a compilation of poems about war and wars. those we have been through and those we just know a little about. it goes back to revolutionary conflicts, civil war conflicts and touches on our ever aging prisoner of war issues.
it tells of heroes and villians of desperation and victory. the prisoner of war issue goes back to the Korean and Vietnamese War and those we knowingly left behind. it tells of patriotism, gallantry and betrayal.
the back cover picture is me and my good friend Suzy. she is married to one of my heroes West Coast, who is a member of the Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle club. suzy helped me to become aware of all of the issues.
my friends in POW/MIA Awareness motorcycle club also played a part in my education.
there are so many people who have played a part in the effort to recognize our outstanding men and women who have sacraficed so much for their country. especially the families whose lives have been forever changed by the events.
PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER BOOKS:
THROUGH THE TEARS
COMING OF AGE
NO GREATER LOVE
SOMEWHERE WITHIN OUR MIND
THEY CAN BE ORDERED OFF THE INTERNET OR BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL BOOK STORE

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 5, 2004
• ISBN: 9781469109848

MARIE DONOVAN

To award-winning author Marie Donovan, writing romance is a dream come true after so many years of avid reading. She got her fill of tragedies and unhappy endings by majoring in opera/vocal performance and Spanish literature. During those years of singing about operatic heroines who inevitably met bad ends, and reading about political prisons and horrible civil wars, she devoured romances whenever she could. Her first attempt at romance fiction was a gothic-type short contemporary where the teenage heroine actually ran into the dark and stormy night to escape her abusive father. That manuscript currently lurks in the depths of her hard drive, waiting to be cannibalized for a future book. After taking off several years from writing fiction, Marie won a bookstore gift certificate and took it as a sign to get started writing romance again. She promptly ordered several how-to books on writing romance novels and read them until they were dog-eared. Fortunately, as she smartened up about writing romances, so did her heroines. Harlequin's wonderful Blaze line inspired her to try her hand at sensual romance. Her manuscript won several Romance Writers of America chapter contests and sold to the Blaze series in January 2005. Marie has worked for a large suburban public library district for the past eight years as both a cataloguer and a bilingual Spanish storytime presenter. She graduated magna cum laude with two bachelor degrees from a Midwestern liberal arts university and speaks six languages. When not writing, she enjoys reading, gardening and yoga. Marie loves to hear from her readers. To find out more about her smart, sexy, stirring romances, please email her at [e-mail]

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Copyright © 2003 by Marie Donovan.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

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Contents

Dedication

Sniper

The Bear

Checkmate

Always Someone

So What

Grass Roots

Coming Home

Decisions

The Homefront

Your Eyes

How Can I Tell Her

All But Me

Secrets Of Shame

Endless Search

One Kill

Standing Strong

So Amazed

Easy To Forget

Hold On

A Little More

Do Something

Valley Forge

Not One

The Big Cover Up

The Difference

Clock Of Dime

Set Them Free

Whence It Came

Till I Get Back

Bound And Gagged

Donald

Marching Home

Attrition Bound

P. O. W.

Vigil In Newark

Fighting On

Star Spangled Faith

Since Jesus

Somewhere

Grandpa’s Rocker

19 With A Buffet

David Could

Have You Forgotten Me?

Bite The Bullet

Wounded Deeper Than Skin

Soldier In The Sand

Marke Dumpert

Danny s Last Reply

When You Return

Politics

Quiet Sea

Daydreams

Please Hear Me

Prisoner Of War

Patience Of Lady

Life And Liberty

The Deal

At Last

Albro Lundy

Pow Plight

In The Silence

Blood

Kiss It All Goodbye

Am I So Easy To Forget

Honorable Mention

Flower Children

No Cross

Why Do I Care

What He Doesn’t Know

Just One

I’m Still Here

No Answers

Tell The World

My Country

Somewhere In Country

Stalking

Twenty Years

Joey

America In Shame

Price To Be Paid

‘Twas The Night

Shakers And Makers

Wait And See

A Difference

Judas

Behind The Lie

A Mother’s Son

Why Do You Question Why?

Christmas Time

One And One And One

Prayers And Promises

Close Your Eyes

Mama Said

Chances Are

He Waits

Tracks Of Red Tape

For You To Care

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my many associates, friends, and heroes who have worked tirelessly throughout the many years to recognize the gift of freedom.

To the many veterans who went, served, and those who still serve. To the many brothers who came home maimed in body and soul. To the many who cannot forget the few who never made it home.

It is dedicated to men like Lance Sijan and Marke Dumpert.

It is dedicated to men I have met like the many Veterans who ride with the Viet Nam Veterans M/C Club.

It is especially dedicated to the ones who believe that there are indeed still living POW’s who have not made it home.

Sniper

In tall elephant grass he waited

With a patience born of skill

He was the one they called on

When they needed a sure kill

With a caution in his stride

Checking sight and smell and sound

Like a chameleon on the landscape

They don’t sense his being around

Ever on watchful guard

Taking note of friend or foe

If they need valiant expertise

Then he’s the one to go

He’s the best we have to offer

Nothing left to circumstance

Caught up in his crosshairs

You would not stand a