Dominions of Corrosion Jimmy Boom Semtex more poems

Dominions of Corrosion

Jimmy Boom Semtex

https://www.scribd.com/book/296629314/Dominions-of-Corrosion

Tondelayo

And so there...

There high above us was the High Squadron.

Their contrails were visible for miles.

Enemy Nazi fighters could, would, hide there.

We in the Middle Squadron watched them, they stalked us, out of 50 Cal range.

They waited...

We flew on in our B-17, named Tondelayo.

Little did we know that we would be attacked, soon.

And again on other flights.

20MM cannon shells would be found, unexploded, in our wing fuel tanks.

Inside one shell was not high explosive but a note; it said:

This is all we can do for now...

Later, they hit us.

Tondelayo ended up under the sea.

We barely survived.

We flew for the Mighty Eighth.

Don't ask our names...

Just remember what we did.

For Elmer Bendiner, his crewmates and their plane Tondelayo, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Elmer wrote a stunning book. I read it in the 80s...

The Shoe Thief

You said you were a business man of shoes.

Yet you looked like a tramp.

Dirty jeans and t-shirt with messy hair and pot belly.

The 'I'm not rich look'?

To throw people off the scent you've got money?

You went to the shoe business and spun them lies.

Said you've a big business and can get hundreds of orders.

Will bring a big upfront cash payout the next day.

For them to buy raw materials.

They were happy and expected a cash cow.

You were full of shit and lied.

Karma will repay you harshly.

It always does in the law of life.

You got away with 7 pairs of free shoes.

You'll buy food and gin with that.

Consider this their gift to you.

So you don't starve.

This is a small city so one day they'll see you again.

And remind you not to lie to them or yourself.

Above all to yourself.

Because some people use guns and get even.

You are now known as The Shoe Thief.

Eternally Together (based on the film Pompeii)

I've never seen a film ending like it.

I was shocked beyond incredulous.

More than the ending of American Sniper.

Princess and slave together.

Made up characters chasing a dream.

Almost achieving it and really being together.

Not in their embrace or hearts or in love.

But for absolute eternity.

That last is a fact proven beyond doubt.

For their bodies were found as one.

They died horribly but quickly.

Not alone but for each other.

Not selfish but selfless.

The film's characters were made up.

But they represented the two who perished as one.

And all their other friends and families.

For when Vesuvius erupted it spared none.

Poor and privileged died along with Pompeii.

Earthquakes, falling ash, tidal waves, pyroclastic flows.

Straight from hell with no chance to reach heaven.

What did they both think, man and woman, at their end?

Did they look into the other's eyes as superheated ash hit?

Incinerating their living bodies and pausing time.

Preserving an unnamed couple forever.

Just like their buried city and lost souls.

Reaching out thru time and telling us:

Pompeii happened. And will happen again.

Enduring Strength

My family life was strange.

Seeing things I didn't understand.

Growing up in that household.

Having to follow strict rules.

Feeling my father's leather belt when I didn't.

Daring to be naughty and swear.

Rebelling and being crushed with words.

Having a dominant mother who was boss.

Remembering her words even today.

Still following her rules from beyond the grave.

Mine was an odd upbringing.

But a strong lifeline.

I survived to endure.