Vicki's Book of Poetry

"There’s a Bogie on the Screen"

All day long the men have labored,
Tired out and feeling mean-
Now sacked off in solid comfort,
But There’s a Bogie on the Screen.

“Get the hell to General Quarters,”
Threats and growls and oaths obscene,
“Bugler! Where the hell’s the bugler?
There’s a Bogie on the Screen.”

Dah-dah-dah-da, Battle stations
Breaks upon their sleep serene,
“Hit the deck there, on the double.
There’s a Bogie on the Screen.”

A little dot in Radar Plot,
Is the cause of all this scene,
All this running, all this cussing,
There’s a Bogie on the Screen.

“What’s the Range, and what’s the Bearing!”
Shouts the gun boss, wild and mean,
Tousled hair and pants still drooping
There’s a Bogie on the Screen.

Round the guns the crew is huddled,
Eyes are wild like Halloween
On the Bridge the Skipper’s shouting,
“There’s a Bogie on the Screen.”

Up the Halyards flags go racing
Signals flash in red and green
“At the dip, to block those Foxes,
There’s a Bogie on the Screen.”

“Distance twenty, closing slowly,”
Down the deck the planes careen,
Roaring like the Bulls of Bashan
There’s a Bogie on the Screen.

Tally-Ho, a snooping Betty,
Streaks of tracers can be seen,
And the Dot in Radar Plot
Is fading slowly from the Screen.

Comes the word- “All hands secure,”
In their sacks they sit and lean,
Tired still but plenty happy
There’s no Bogie on the Screen.
~Warren L. Scofield (January 5, 1921-January 26, 2004); U.S.S. Independence CVL-22, Boeing Aerospace manager, systems manager for Apollo I
-Grandpa died before my dad found the poem, which Dad read at the memorial service. In high school, I read it to my history classes both as part of the lesson and as a way to honor my beloved grandpa. You can also find the poem on the U.S.S. Independence CVL-22 official website since Dad posted it.

"Winter Wheat"

Fields of winter wheat,
Fill the mind with seas of gold;
Harvested each June.
~Me
A haiku for my 8th grade English class written at four in the morning since I couldn't go back to sleep. It's a good thing it popped into my head since the assignment was due that day.

"Love and Lust"

Love is a roller coaster.
It has its ups and downs.
There are moments of fear,
And there are moments of joy.
You feel free and yet confined.
Sometimes you want to scream,
But then you want to laugh.

Lust is a rose.
It is so soft and sweet,
But so easily broken.
It can lose petals,
The scent will fade.
Time will weaken it.
Lust will wilt away.

Love is the sky.
It can be filled with light
Or it can be covered in clouds.
It can be black as pitch
And it can be filled with stars.
But no matter the weather and time,
It never truly disappears.

Lust is the fashions of today.
It is popular and wonderful now,
But will it be tomorrow?
Will you be ashamed of it?
Will it stay and continue to grow?
If it is lust then it will fade with time
Just like fashions being replaced.

Love lasts forever while lust fades.
Which will keep you warm and safe?
Which will abandon you to heartbreak?
The winds of time ravage lust’s sandy shores,
But it shall not disturb the rock that is love.
These two feelings are so different
And yet they are so easily mistaken.
~Me

"The Road of Life"

Life is a road,
So you might need a map.
It has twists and turns.
It has dead ends and traffic.
There are roundabouts and ramps.
It is so easy to get lost.

You might make a wrong turn
Or you might get into a crash.
You could be pulled to the side
Your world can be turned upside down.
You can be wandering along this road,
But if you have a plan then you won’t be lost.

I have a plot and it leads to a pleasant end.
Do you have one too?
I cannot foresee the trials ahead,
But my atlas will lead me through.
I won’t leave my plot for some silly thing.
I will follow it until I reach my destination.

All roads have ends and so does life.
The end depends upon the road.
Does yours have a dead end?
Does it lead to the bustling cities?
Our choices decide this end
And our plans will form the map.
~Me

"Broken Laughter"

Just because I’m laughing,
Doesn’t mean I don’t cry.
Doesn’t mean I’m not afraid.
Doesn’t mean I’m naïve.
Doesn’t mean I’m joking.
Just because I’m laughing,
Doesn’t mean I’m not serious.
Doesn’t mean everything is great.
Doesn’t mean the pain is gone.
Doesn’t mean it’s truly funny.
Just because I’m laughing,
Doesn’t mean there’s humor.
Doesn’t mean I’m not sad.
Doesn’t mean I’m ignorant.
Doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten.
Just because I’m laughing,
I can still be happy.
I can see the light.
I can overcome the shadow.
I can enjoy my life.
Just because I’m laughing…humor me.
~Me
From the point of view of the narrator/hero of the novel I'm writing.
Written for my 10th grade Creative Writing class. Note that we had to follow this format for the assignment.

"Love and Friendship"

Love can survive the coldest winter’s storm;
Despite the weather’s bitter, frosty bite.
Staying in love is always worth the fight.
Now, the question is: what is love’s true form?
True friendship might this feeling’s real shape be,
For it can survive many a dark night.
When the shadow falls, it serves as light.
Yes, on this I think we all must agree.
Yet, where is romance if this be love?
Friends may come and go, but never your dear.
Thy beloved stays for many a year.
Surely, this can’t be one you’ll get sick of.
Your love is a great friend and yet far more.
I leave it to you to find one to adore.
~Me
A love sonnet written in iambic pentameter for my 12th grade English class.