Love and Desire
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:26 am
Love and Desire
Oh, this desire,
My thoughts are cluttered with it!
When I try to forget,
It becomes a smoldering fire
That burns deep in my breast.
Is this love? Don’t confuse them;
That’s what I tell myself.
But what is left if I separate them,
A bird without a nest?
What can I do?
I am totally confused
And my emotions are bruised
From thinking about you.
I need a moment of rest.
©August 2013
Roy Mack Bowen EM2(SS) USS James Madison SSBN627 (B&G) 1968-1971
I wrote this poem during my first patrol cycle on the 627. This was the Madison’s 15th patrol. This would be April – June 1968. We were operating out of Scotland then. I was getting real serious about my girlfriend. I would later marry her when I was selected to take the Madison into the E.B. Shipyards. It was a fairly long stay in the yards because, among other things, we had our nuclear reactor replaced and our missile tubes “adapted” to accept the new Poseidon C5 ??? missile. As I remember we were the first of the “41 for Freedom” boats to get this MIRV conversion. Anyway… I would be in port quite a while so we decided to get married.
Back at sea, a year before our marriage, I had real trouble focusing on my “quals” the way I wanted to. One day (or night.. I was never sure because it didn’t matter anyway) I was taking a break in my quiet place where I usually studied – in upper level missile compartment, port side, outboard tubes 2 & 4 - and I finished this poem .... instead of studying.
Yes, ladies, we thought about you girls a LOT on patrol … !!! Don’t let the guys tell you that they were too busy!
Oh, this desire,
My thoughts are cluttered with it!
When I try to forget,
It becomes a smoldering fire
That burns deep in my breast.
Is this love? Don’t confuse them;
That’s what I tell myself.
But what is left if I separate them,
A bird without a nest?
What can I do?
I am totally confused
And my emotions are bruised
From thinking about you.
I need a moment of rest.
©August 2013
Roy Mack Bowen EM2(SS) USS James Madison SSBN627 (B&G) 1968-1971
I wrote this poem during my first patrol cycle on the 627. This was the Madison’s 15th patrol. This would be April – June 1968. We were operating out of Scotland then. I was getting real serious about my girlfriend. I would later marry her when I was selected to take the Madison into the E.B. Shipyards. It was a fairly long stay in the yards because, among other things, we had our nuclear reactor replaced and our missile tubes “adapted” to accept the new Poseidon C5 ??? missile. As I remember we were the first of the “41 for Freedom” boats to get this MIRV conversion. Anyway… I would be in port quite a while so we decided to get married.
Back at sea, a year before our marriage, I had real trouble focusing on my “quals” the way I wanted to. One day (or night.. I was never sure because it didn’t matter anyway) I was taking a break in my quiet place where I usually studied – in upper level missile compartment, port side, outboard tubes 2 & 4 - and I finished this poem .... instead of studying.
Yes, ladies, we thought about you girls a LOT on patrol … !!! Don’t let the guys tell you that they were too busy!