Babylift Poem
By Christina SharikShe said:
I wasn’t a nurse, just a
soldier
and long, long ago I took part,
in a rescue mission of children
a mission of the heart -
one of the planes went down in flames
in April of ’75 -
and those of us
who flew later
bear witness each day
we’re alive;
witness to bravery
beyond understanding,
to giving life
a fighting chance -
witness to future weddings,
and poetry and dance -
I’m glad I was part
of this wonderful thing,
a mission so worthwhile -
Live free, oh beautiful children:
Let your lives sing -
Let your souls smile.
I only wish I could have taken them all…
© Christina Sharik April 2000
For Linda D. Watson “Scooter”
Christina Sharik is also known as "ArmyMom" on the Internet. She wrote this poem for Linda Watson a/k/a Scooter, who participated in Operation Babylift and is very active with veterans' affairs, especially Women's issues. Linda was injured in a jeep accident and thus uses, a "scooter" now and then. Christina's ex husband served in DaNang in 69/70. Christina works as a legal secretary, expects her first grandchild in December, and is writing a book entitled "Healing the Heartache: Poetry for the Vietnam Generation" - a collection of her poems. Read more of Christina's poems on her website.
Back to: Operation Babylift
