Survivors Speak: Poetry of Vietnam

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Gary Jacobson is a Vietnam vet who also happens to be a poet. I asked if I could interview him about the intersection of PTSD, healing and poems. He agreed and has been extremely generous in illuminating the path of a healing vet. Over the next month or two Gary’s interview will appear as a series of posts, each one answering one of my questions.

What first inspired you to explore your trauma/PTSD experience in art form?

A Vietnamese legend says, ‘All poets are full of silver threads that rise inside them as the moon grows large.’ So, when I write, it is because these silver threads are words poking at me, and I must let them out. I have had many teachers write to tell me that their students, “Just don’t know!” about Vietnam … about war … that is why I write!

The history I try to depict among the horrors of war is the need for peace and brotherly love shared among all peoples of the world. All the people of the world continually need to understand how important an event war is. War will always be a determining factor of not only who we are, but will determine our very futures, as well as whole generations surrounding us. If we do not learn the history of war and its terrible implications, learning there is no glory in war…only death, sheer destruction of values and misery, then we are doomed to repeat it! My fervent wish is that we will come to understand the horrors of war, that we can work for peace evermore, making war-no-more!

I sincerely feel that most Vietnam veterans realize there are no real war survivors. For the living, there can never be real and complete peace. We can’t help but look back on an event that impacted our lives so completely … changed us so completely. We’ve seen too much … done too much … had too much done to us. Many veterans of war just cannot talk about the horrors they’ve seen. It brings up too many bad memories. I’m not afflicted that way because I was trained as a journalist. I feel I must tell the story whereas so many can’t, for some reason or another.

My poetry is my vehicle to transmit a compelling message about war’s reality paid not only by those who died, but also by those who do come home, but are changed, never the same by doing what most Americans can never imagine. The families of these men deserve to know. America needs to know!

Gary’s Poignant Poems Index contains combat action pictures, artwork, and stirring music, each portraying an aspect of life in the Vietnam and Iraqi wars. To read Gary’s moving poem, ‘Thousand Yard Stare’ click here.

‘Survivors Speak’ is a weekly feature written by or interviewing a survivor/PTSD experiencer about some positive aspect of healing. If you would like to participate in the series (anonymously if you prefer), please email thoughts, ideas, and topic suggestions to Michele @ healmyptsd.com

(Photo: Gary Jacobson)

Tags: gary jacobson, poetry, posttraumatic stress, ptsd, Veterans healing, vietnam