"Blowin' Me Away” by Bob Atkinson

"Blowin' Me Away”

(c)2010 Bob Atkinson

don't blow me away

don't stop all this fun

I'm not a felon or a soldier

or someone on the run

had good vibes
in the city

could feel the gritty kitty

a pick-up game

on some strange lot

would new friends make
for me

sad sack there
watching my flair
bets were made
bread paid
spun around and proud

shot, dunk, points
money in the pocket
trinkets here, no cash there
I'll take your locket

simple was
the rush to hoop
ball gently laid


gimme five
oh yes behind
we're champions
for the day

Firestone to Washington

was my range of motion

it didn't matter
where I played

were lots of folks
who liked my jokes

up from the city

empty lots not pretty
tags on walls
near
brick building tall
proof of ownership in paint
no trespassing on the gate

some would rest their bones
some had left their homes
others would search for things
wire carts they would bring

homeless they did toil

hard upon their souls

to live another day
and maybe 

even bum a smoke

with their neighbors

they would talk and joke

maybe eat a meal

maybe lie in a bed

of cardboard shards

tin panels large

or freeway covering heads

someday in a field

of green clover or grass

they would forever sleep

beneath their river overpass

where needs met

and no frets

about being weaker
than the rest
and of course

as prey of the best

thoughts of good times

when they were young

life new to them each day

an adventure sweet

many games play

young and innocent fools

future seemed
to brightly gleam
then comes

the saddest kind of gloom

great fun always to run

wanting to get older

brightened up their days

bantering with

brothers, sisters and mother

but now it's different

hearts in a mess and spoiled

future soiled

control not theirs

they weren't really bad ones

only somewhat broken

direction unclear

maybe even hopeless

they gave up jobs

which frowned their mom's

and couldn't do no show

without a needle in their arm

or a pipe for smoke to blow

they didn't see out in our city

we sang and danced and played

did the drugs and bad stuff hard

which took our future away

some took to forty-fives

some took to thirty-eights

me, I took to having fun

on the street a dollar to make

don't blow me away

don't stop all this fun

I'm not a felon or a soldier

or someone on the run

I'm someone
who is older now
by luck I'm still around

I'm myself, my me, who else?

danger's a sad old thing

don't keep me from doin'

all the things that I like best

don't let me die

on pavement lie

with blood all over

my face

Contact Bob Atkinson

“A SOLDIER TO THE FRONT” by Bob Atkinson

“A SOLDIER TO THE FRONT”  

© 2007 Bob Atkinson

A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 
KNOWN QUITE WELL

IN ALL THE RIGHT CIRCLES
A TRUE SOUTHERN BELLE

SHE DROVE THROUGH PARADE GROUNDS

HER PORSCHE WAS TOPLESS

SUCH A FINE LOOKING WOMAN

NO ONE WOULD STOP HER

THE SOLDIERS SHE ADMIRED
SO PRIM AND SO PROPER

IN MANLY ATTIRE
UNIFORMS SPOTLESS

SHE SAW THEM SHARP
THEIR CARBINES DID MOVE

SWIFTLY TOGETHER
LED BY THEIR BOOTS

THEIR CHINS UP HIGH
THEIR PRIDE SHOWING THROUGH

AS THEY MARCHED TO THE CADENCE

OF LIEUTENANTS WELL SCHOOLED

HUP, TWO, THREE, FOUR

YOU ARE FIGHTING MEN OF LORE

HUP, TWO, THREE, FOUR

THE CHOICE OF WHERE ISN'T YOURS

HUP, TWO, THREE, FOUR

THE PEOPLE VOTE AND IT IS DONE

YOUR ONLY FRIEND IS YOUR GUN

HUP, TWO, THREE, FOUR

GOODBYE SWEET LAND

OF LIBERTY AND STRENGTH

IT IS FONDLY WE BID YOU

LET NOT DEATH BRING US BACK

GOODBYE SWEET LAND 
OF LOVED ONES APLENTY

WHICH HOLDS OUR FUTURE 
AND THE PROMISE OF MANY

SITTING SWEETLY
ON THE CABROLET

SHE SAW HER WILLIAM 
MARCH PAST THE CANNON

HEAD NOT MOVED
SHE SAW HIS EYES

WITH LOVE GIVE HER SADLY
A TEARFUL GOODBYE

HUP, TWO, THREE, FOUR

YOU ARE FIGHTING MEN OF LORE

HUP, TWO, THREE, FOUR

THE CHOICE OF WHERE ISN'T YOURS

HUP, TWO, THREE, FOUR

THE PEOPLE VOTE AND IT IS DONE

YOUR ONLY FRIEND IS YOUR GUN

UP THE STEEP RAMP
BATALLIONS AROSE

INTO THE MOUTHS 
OF WINGED MONSTERS DROVE

FORMATIONS OF SOULS
TO SIT AND REFLECT

IN FULL PACKS AND CLOTHES
NO SIGNS OF NEGLECT

LET BATTLES BE FOUGHT
AND STORIES TO BE TOLD

OF HOW THEIR LOW SPIRITS AROSE

WHEN A WOMAN OF BEAUTY
SAT THERE AND WAVED

TO EACH ONE DIRECTLY
AS THEY WENT TO THEIR GRAVE
HUP, TWO, THREE............FOUR

Contact Bob Atkinson

"the Bad Lieutenant" by Bob Atkinson

"the Bad Lieutenant"

(c)2010 Bob Atkinson

coffee cup in hand

up from the desk and stretched

smelled a fresh pot

through the doorway 

across the hall 

not far

the new Lieutenant

sat at on a stool

in the corner of my office

diligently writing his report

as he had been trained was proper

was a nice young fellow

seemed meek and mellow

as long as he didn't irritate me

I let him use my table

his rank held no status

the furniture wasn't gratis

figured he'd soon owe me

would think of a way

to collect the fee

passed him by 

then he cried

Atkinson, you going for coffee?

I said

oh yes, we have the best

and continued on my journey

he said

please, get one for me?

sure..... I told him so

no matter to me

you want cream?

then across the hall I'd go

next day same scene

was working on my reports

sitting at my desk

relaxing, of course

heard from the corner

where the lieutenant was sitting

Atkinson, get me coffee!!.....

I looked up and smiled

didn't say a word this time

wasn't sure what I had heard

did not compute, wasn't cool

was this some Looney Tune?

Atkinson, get me coffee!!..... 

heard it again

looked up and smiled

was the lieutenant nuts?

was he trying suicide?

Atkinson, get me coffee!!

heard it again....pleeze..... 

was nearly ten

looked at my watch

seemed a slow day

sat there in thought

how should I handle

this idiot who

thought he was better

that the rest of the crew

Lieutenant,.....I did say

I believe you should be

fornicated right away

but, I didn't say it that way

back to my work

couldn't stand this jerk

who'd he think he was anyway?

discrimination of any kind

was not my kind of hay

not title, rank or pay

the ones I respect

could do the work

then go on their way

the Lieutenant was in shock

of him, his rank, I mocked

would be a reason

for Court Marshal season

or Article 15 today

then about lunch time

to the mess hall I went

left Stader in charge

and bopped on my way

soon as I left the room

the Lieutenant in his gloom

rushed over to the First Sergeant

said ...Smith we got a problem

disrespect I've been given

did you hear the way

Atkinson said

I should fornicate myself 

right away?

Smith looked up at him

he usually didn't grin

but in this case

the old guy gave

his laughter away to him

You think so huh?

be careful son

this isn't your normal prey

the kid you spoke about

doesn't play by your rules

he goes his way

draws his pay

any way he wants to

you've seen him

making reveille

in his VW Beele..called...Squeaky

you see him..... now and then

in line..... but, don't count

on him next time

he'll be where he wants to be

NCO Club or on the street

driving his truck

which he considers his bus

he took my four cases

of C Rations stashed

in the trailer of his five quarter

ate them to the last

last month 

we were in Wildflecken

there on a mission

he took from me

my hex tent for six

got a barbeque

and made a kitchen

carpeted it on the floor

yelled at the 3rd platoon

my electricity please

better get here soon

went to town 

and filled his truck

with beer 

and chocolate milk

on the Army's dime

not yours, not mine

oh by the way that truck

he drives when he wants to

always scores one hundred percent

on inspections in the motor pool

he doesn't touch it

unless he's gonna take a drive

got some soldier doing his work

it's cleaned and maintained

by magician's wand

he drives it all around

where he goes I don't have a clue

I just stay here inside

figure that one out Lieutenant

the Lieutenant wasn't pleased

he just couldn't see

how a speck five took

the discipline book

and threw it up a tree

the Captain wasn't helpful

no, I'm not able

to discipline this soldier

don't care if it's in the book

his head he then shook

the other lieutenants wouldn't help

the shave tail in his quest

no sergeants who

would help him either too

or give him counsel best

the privates they would joke

about the Lieutenant who miss-spoke

and how he would be next in line

for a trip to Vietnam

some people were called

to fight in mud and rain

from the unit here and there

you see this man had

leverage in his hand

when he had arrived

in Fulda full of pride

they had his

headquarter's troop job given

to some other guy

 who thought he was sly

so, vacation relief

in regimental personnel

done for a guy named Larry

who did address

the redeployment desk

and put names on the line

for levy's of the Vietnam kind

then when Black EeTee eSsed

Bob transferred to the 58th fast

and would do his best

whenever needed

to cover Larry's desk

oh, and the Lieutenant replaced

a first louie named Westerfield

whom Bob didn't respect

who had cried

when he was sent

to Vietnam last month

at guess who's request?

“Leadership” Definition by Bob Atkinson

Leadership = Providing others with the ownership of a given orientation toward a particular goal or process.

“Jefe for the Week” by Bob Atkinson

(c)2010 Bob Atkinson

they worked hard

each in his own way

giving time and talents

to the company every day

had their problems

                           getting things done

their own way of doing

                           felt under the gun

an idea here

                                an idea there

could be for nothing

                         if the boss didn't care

so through each day

                             they toiled away 
                           giving their energy

for a fair day's pay

                              always was hard

always much work

                       here in the warehouse

the boss was a jerk

pull this right now

or you goofed it again

work harder you slacker

fill that there bin

Cecil gave

as good as he could

but never was seen

as really that good

then came an idea

in my small little brain

we can this handle

with my little plan

the men they must have

pride in their efforts

and must be shown

first hand

how it is to direct work

the workers complained

didn't matter what for

not to their liking

what was done on the floor

instead of dealing

with issues abundant

I set out a goal

to make here some progress

Larry was dictator

of this non-eager crew

tried his best

what was right to do

but fussing and fighting

backstabbing and lightning

always was there

because nobody cared

now, Larry was senior

in the company had been

a fixture at SCT

since I was a kid

he was a good man

always sincere

as were the rest

but eyes were

aligned to ears

a meeting I held

to get them together

Larry was leaving

for vacation two weeks

men we have here a problem

your supervisor is off

starting next week

for fourteen days

we won't him see

as the manager

of this fine institution

I could work back here

in his place and be useless

or, if you all agree

we can appoint a “Jefe”

the warehouse to oversee

“Jefe” means head,

chief, boss, manager

a leader and someone to go to

when directions needed

or decisions to make

l

the problems

the good stuff

the bad stuff

no title official

there's no extra pay

or recognition of it

you just work your butt off

no personal profit

but, me you won't see

I'll come back to say hi

with no intentions

of giving you hows

the “Jefe” will rotate

when Larry is gone

I want all of you

to see how it's done

now all the men

before I had come

were workers of rote

not a bit of the mind

Adrian took

the first two weeks

then the others in turn

were boss for some weeks

Cecil was a bit reluctant

'cause he knew in his heart

his work was marginal

he felt that he could

at any moment lose his job

and it made him so nervous

was hard getting along

Adrian took him aside

said “you must this do”

and Cecil agreed

as a full member of the crew

Manuel took his turn

and also did good

in spite of his language

no English understood

in summary we had

all men who were solid

as supervisors or workers

no one could knock them

the operation became a success

when hard working men

gave being “boss” their best