monsoon season, Vietnam, 1968

[norm milliken]

when the rains came
they came all at once.
they came silentwhen the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent
 
no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,
 
filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.
 
I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,
 
pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.
 
waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.
 
the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.
 
when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,
 
and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.

[CRNDLSM]

Not to question the authors format but it looks like you've repeated the same poem 20 times in a very tiny font.

[tun]

This is too small to read.

[dukealien]

Actually, I count 27 repetitions, but who's counting?

Seriously, the basic (daily) poem is well written, evocative, and descriptive.  Wonder if the 27 reps is an actual count, as from a diary or log book.

The device of using a small font may have been due to Word™, which sometimes does such things.  If it's intended, the idea of giving the poem a sort of graphic shape the reader must work to turn into words may have merit.

Personally, I don't care for either device.  But I can certainly see the point, and sympathize with the author's trying to get the reader to feel the ennui of non-combat misery.  It's a worthy effort.

[tun]

when the rains came
they came all at once.
they came silent
when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent

no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,

filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.

I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,

pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.

waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,

the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.

when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,

and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.

no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,

filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.

I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,

pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.

waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,when the rains came

---

when the rains came
they came all at once.
they came silent
when the rains came

they came all at once.
they came silent

no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,

filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.

I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,

pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.

waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,

the choppers that couldn’t fly
for three days
of endless rain.

when we heard
“Saddle up!”
we packed ourselves like mules,
burdened and senseless,

and moved further
into the mountains,
almost able to swim in the air.

no wind or thunder-
there was never thunder-
just the deluge
in the early dark of morning,

filling the foxhole
quickly
with red mud
that smelled
like nothing before
or since.

I draped my poncho
over the gun,
over the hundreds of rounds
trailing into the feed tray,

pulled on the rain jacket
my mother had sent,
and waited out
the rest of my watch.

waited for the daylight,
for the choppers that wouldn’t
come with resupply,
with c-rations and dry socks,when the rains came

These cannon fodder grunts need to forget about rain and organize a proper mutiny.