Ernie Smiling Hawk
NO PLACE TO HIDE
As I sit in the chopper door as far as the eye can see
Stretched out across the land are the rice paddies
Like a giant patchwork quilt they are spread over the land
A thing of true beauty made by my fellow man
There is however another side to this beautiful view
A truly ugly side that is hidden from you
In those paddies death waits to walk at your side
Because in the rice paddies there’s no place to hide
As the chopper lowers us close to the ground
Come the sounds of battle from all around
I look ahead and a frightening sight I see
Oh dear God, it’s a HOT LZ!
I jump from the chopper before touch down
While praying I’m not hit by enemy round
To the safety of the wood line I know I must flee
But I’m stuck in the damn mud clear up to my knees
From deep inside primal energy begins to flow
With anger filled heart I scream ‘NO!’
With unknown strength I pull myself free
I refuse to die in this stinking rice paddy
Stuck in the rice paddy mud many of my brothers died
Because in the rice paddy mud
‘THERE’S NO PLACE TO HIDE!’
©Copyright 2004 by Ernie Smiling Hawk
Author’s Note: Dedicated, with love and respect, to my brother’s who never made it to the wood line