Favorite poems from the work of Army Poet Major Bradley Van Deusen

Military and love poetry from Major Bradley Van Deusen (1905-1952), Major Henry Livingston's fourth great grandson.

Thinking about Henry Livingston and Night Before Christmas got me thinking about why I started this new phase of attribution research 18 years ago. I was searching for the poetry of my father, Major Bradley Van Deusen, and getting nowhere. All I had was a letter he had written mother trying to get her back. It said that he'd burned his manuscripts and the future could do without him. That hit deeply because if mother wanted to do without him, I didn't. But he died while I was still a child. In trying to find one of his poetry books, I began investigating genealogy, hoping to find an unknown cousin who would have one of his poetry books. I failed, but I did find Major Henry, another relative who had been lost to history. I was determined that if I failed with father, I wouldn't fail with Henry.

And after learning about poetry from Vassar Prof Don Foster, I went back and found a newspaper column in which my father courted my mother through poetry. Studying Major Henry had taught me more than I realized as I fought my way through father's pseudonyms. And then, after working with U of Auckland Prof Mac Jackson, I found one of father's two books, and then poetry he'd published in Leatherneck.

So I bless Henry for finding me a father I never knew. From the page linked above of some of my favorites of father's poetry:

Convent of the Guns

Grey stars agleam in a blank, dead sky
Grey guns agrowl below.
Grey clad men out beyond the wire.
Grey fields in the star-shells glow.

The barrage is a pounding symphony
That ears attuned cannot hear
There's something flicking the parapet
There's something above you fear!

Not fear of "stopping one" above,
Or fear for the man beside.
There's something flicking the parapet
There's a fear that you cannot hide.

"Stand By!" The rifle is cool in your hand
And your heart pounds hard and quick.
There's something flicking the parapet
Number Three of the squad is sick.

The rifle hurts the palm of your hand
Like gripping a stiff wire brush
There's something flicking the parapet
"Walk slow through the wire, then rush!"

The whistle! The ladders! Up over the edge!
And your legs seem stiff and sore.
There's something flicking the parapet
Number Three is sick no more!

Grey stars agleam in a blank dead sky
Grey guns agrowl below.
Grey faces turned to the glowing stars
Where men lie dead in a row.

Father wasn't fancy in the least. His strength seems to be the simplicity of his words. He loved the military deeply, and it was hard for him to retire. His obituary says that he left monies to the soldiers playing taps and shooting over his grave in the Ft Sam Houston cemetery. I desperately wish I had known him, and this poetry is the only way I can. There's still one book unfound.

***

In a quiet hospital ward an old soldier is dying. A young hospital orderly sits by his side. As the dying man gasps a few words the notes of Taps float in the open window."

"Fades the light ... and afar ... goeth day, cometh night ..."

"Yes, it's almost finished ... my hitch is done
I've done my duty ... I've known some friends.
It was well worthwhile ... I've no regrets.
I hate to leave the Army but my discharges comes
'From Higher Authority' than my own C. O.
Seven hash marks. Son: will you show as much?
And all my characters were 'Excellent'!"

"And a star ... guideth all ..."

"I had my star, too, not in cash
But the flaunting of a bit of color at sunset
I ain't talked about it much, a man don't talk
About the things he feels. I've loved it though ..."

"Leadeth all ... to ... their ... rest."

"Adios, Kid! I'm done ... one thing though ...
Tell that recruit in my squadroom to strai ...
Ah-h-h-h!"

The bugler lights a cigarette and throws away the match.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.