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Love and Desire

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:26 am
by rmbowen
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!

Re: Love and Desire

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:21 pm
by KellyJoeRay
Another great explanation of what it is like to be in love, homesick and burnt out all at the same time...We call it Submariners Disease...Hungry, Horny and Sleepy all three at the same time... :smt005

Re: Love and Desire

Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:09 pm
by rmbowen
Yep, KJ Ray, the entire crew came down with it every patrol.