“Six Years of Service” A Collection of Poems by Jamie Lee Hamann
First of all “Six Years of Service” is a story told as a long line narrative. Mixed within the narrative are moments of free form imagism, and more traditional forms like sonnet. Therefore the book is a slice of life, autobiographical at times, and shares a soldier’s experience through image and emotion.
“My father was in the Navy during the Vietnam War. My parents met when he was in the service and stationed in San Jose CA. Throughout my life I remember seeing pictures of him in uniform. Even though he did not talk much about his experience I had created stories based on these photographs. His brother, my uncle, fought on the ground in Vietnam. I only knew him after his experience there. According to the stories, I heard from family, he was affected deeply and had many problems with PTSD.
I was in the Army for six years starting in 1991 until 1997. I was a Medical Laboratory Specialist and spent most of my time working for MEDDAC. The Army trained me to run military blood banks in Fort Ord California and I was prepared to deploy to Iraq during “Desert Storm.” I never made it to Iraq and I found myself either working in Military Hospitals in the field or on base.” Introduction to Six Years of Service.
In addition I dedicate this collection of poems to all service members serving or discharged. Enjoy these images that bring the reader into memories of our Armed Services.
Most of all “Six Years of Service” is a simple book. It is a simple read. Moments soldiers feel at different times of their service mixed with moments of my own life and my own experiences.
PILLOWCASES
Many days passed
in the field.
Time seemed
to begin
with warm breakfast
end with cold dinner.
Returned
to our billets
began training
in hand to hand
combat.
Pinned to ground
by a large soldier
from the south, one
of his friends
poured a box
of Clorox
over my head
called me
a smelly Yankee.
Later that evening
a few from
my platoon
filled a pillowcase
with soap
beat the soldier
that held me down
until he begged
for mercy.
From “Six Year of Service“
Consequently this book is a way to share my poems to readers. Otherwise my poetry would sit in a file out of site and out of mind. We write poetry to share and even our older poems deserve to be used.
Therefore the act of collecting poems helped me to reread and revise work. Similar to picking up a lost treasure on your bookshelf and dusting it off. The process helped me to understand my poetry in a different light.
You can purchase a copy from Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/Six-Years-Service-Jamie-Hamann/dp/1546621938/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1514829463&sr=8-2&keywords=Jamie+Lee+Hamann
- The Hounds of Hell - June 20, 2022
- A Clear Cut Horizon - June 13, 2022
- Bookshelf and Bottle of Wine - June 6, 2022
Well done my friend, its is a buz to get the work out there. I wish you all the luck in the world Jamie. Congrats.
Congratulations, Jamie. It is great to get published. Best wishes to you.