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Nicholas A. Virgilio – Vietnam War Haiku
by Kathy Housh
Millikin University
October 26, 2015
For my author essay I chose to write about Nick Virgilio and his Haiku about losing his brother in the Vietnam War. Raffael de Gruttola (Virgilio, 2012) states in the introduction to Nick Virgilio: A Life in Haiku that Virgilio became a full-time haiku poet in the 1960s. Virgilio wrote about nature, his family, his friends and people where he lived.
Virgilio's Haiku resonates deeply with me because of the service members in my family and in my husband's family. My husband's uncle is missing in action from the Vietnam War. About ten years ago the government declared him officially dead. His name is on the Vietnam Memorial Wall and also on a memorial wall in his hometown. When our son decided to serve in the US Army, it resonated hard with my husband because of the loss of his uncle. I have heard many stories about my husband's uncle and what he endured. Furthermore, my dad served in the Vietnam War and he has shared several of his experiences from that time. My son has not had to endure war to this point. However, there are many things he has had to endure because of his decision to become a soldier. Therefore, Virgilio's haiku allows me to visualize and imagine each line of haiku about his brother that was killed. His haiku reflects the emotion that not only he dealt with but what his parents had to endure as well.
Virgilio's haiku about his brother and the Vietnam War all touch me. As I read many of them the tears flowed from my eyes. He shared a piece of himself in his haiku. I feel a deep connection with him and his experiences. I have always said "I just can't imagine." However, when you read his haiku you can really imagine being there in that very moment.
I have chosen seven haiku from Nick Virgilio: A Life in Haiku and four from Selected Haiku that resonated with me the most. The loss that Virgilio and his family went through is one of the deepest emotions that flow from his haiku. His haiku express the importance of relationships and the resulting emotions.
telegram in hand,
the shadow of the marine
darkens our screen door
Virgilio, NV:ALH, 10
In this haiku I am able to visualize the doorbell ringing on a day when the sun is shining. You are able to see the shadow of this soldier standing in front of a screen door. With my son being in the service this haiku is a nightmare I have had on numerous occasions. Regardless of whether or not a soldier is away to war there is always a chance that the military base that he is stationed on could be attacked. The risk is always there. I have heard many stories of visits by military men taking the dreaded telegram to a family member. My husband's family experienced this and it is hard to imagine. However, this haiku brings it to life. The shadow makes you envision the shadow of death.
between the tear drops
on the letter—
spring rain
Virgilio, NV:ALH,11
This haiku follows the above haiku perfectly. It is an extension of the telegram being delivered. The person that is receiving the telegram experiences grief so tear drops fall on the telegram. I also can imagine receiving a letter from your soldier on a spring day when the sun is being covered by clouds. As you open the letter and see that it is from your son or daughter the tears start flowing on to the letter. This haiku is easy for me to imagine because I have personally experienced it. I can remember the very day I took my son to the recruiter's office for him to leave for basic training. He handed me a letter that day and told me it would be the first of many. I remember the tears would not stop. Dropping him off that day was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I knew that I wouldn't be able to talk to him for weeks and that the letters we would send back and forth would be at the mercy of the mail system. I still treasure the letter he handed me that day and I read it on a frequent basis.
among the rows and rows
of white crosses
patches of young grass
Virgilio, NV:ALH,16
This haiku takes me to Camp Butler National Cemetery. My grandfather passed away about 18 years ago and was buried at Camp Butler. I can remember the day my grandfather was buried. It was the first time I had ever been to a cemetery dedicated to soldiers and their families. It was very surreal. It didn't matter which direction I turned, there were rows and rows of crosses. I remember standing there in front of my grandfather's casket and crying. I cried not only for the loss of my grandfather, but for the soldier's that had sacrificed their lives for this nation.
spring wind:
the child in uniform
returns my salute
Virgilio, NV:ALH, 23
What an experience it is the first time you see your son return salute to another soldier. It is even more surreal watching him salute our American flag. This is what I see when I read this haiku. I remember going to my son's graduation from Basic Training. It was the first time I had seen him or talked to him other than letters in three months. I remember watching him salute his drill sergeant and the emotions just flowed through me. I had such pride for what he had endured. The first time Remington came home for a visit he saluted my dad. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. He wasn't required to do something like that but he wanted to show his grandfather respect because he has always been a large part of his life. That first salute… I will never forget it!
at the White House steps,
begging for recognition:
Vietnam vets
Virgilio, NV:ALH, 29
The first line of this haiku takes you to our Nation's capitol. I imagine standing there at the large iron fence looking in. As I stand there I watch our Nation's flag fly in the wind. This is one of the most beautiful sites to behold. As I move to the next line, I imagine street beggars at the Capitol asking for food and money. However, when you read the remaining portion of the haiku it takes a twist. I imagine our Vietnam veterans standing at the White House begging to be recognized. They are not begging for recognition for their service but for their sacrifice. Our Veterans deserve the best healthcare, the best wages, the best of everything for their personal sacrifices.
flag-covered coffin:
the shadow of the bugler
slips into the grave
Virgilio, NV:ALH, 45
Again, this haiku takes me to my grandfather's funeral. It was the first military rights funeral I had ever attended. His coffin was covered with the American flag. There were several servicemen that attended. One of them was the one that would play the bugle and the other three were the ones that would do the 21-gun salute. As the bugler played they slowly lowered my grandfather's casket into the ground. This was after they presented my grandmother with the flag from his casket. The ceremony was beautiful. This haiku also takes me to my uncle's funeral that was just held a few months ago. My son, who is in the Army, was able to attend. He was dressed in his military blues and led the casket to the grave. My uncle's casket was adorned with the American flag as well. This funeral really hit home because it made me think of my son and I thought of how it would be if something were to happen to him.
on my father's wrist
keeping time and eternity:
my dead brother's watch
Virgilio, NV:ALH, 62
I am unable to relate this haiku personally. However, it is easy to imagine a father wearing the watch of his son that had died. After reading Virgilio's other haiku I imagine him looking at the wrist of his father and seeing his brother's watch. I can imagine the emotion that he would deal with every time he saw that watch. I can imagine the emotion to be very raw initially. However, that watch is an extension to his brother so I can imagine his dad not wanting to take it off. It would be a daily reminder of his son.
removing
the bullet proof vest:
the heat
Virgilio, SH, 44
This haiku can be imagined in a couple of ways. When I first read it, I imaged a soldier removing his vest because of the heat outside. Some of our soldiers serve in very desolate areas where the environment is not ideal. Many times it is very, very hot and they have to wear a lot of armor and protection. My son has not ever served in war. However, his training requires him to wear full metal jacket in the dead of heat. He has shared stories of what is called 60-pound ruck marches that the soldiers have to do. This requires a soldier to wear their bulletproof vest among other things. He said he couldn't wait for it to be over to take it all off due to the heat.
I also imagine a soldier receiving fire from the enemy and being hit. I envision the soldier trying to get the vest off because of the heat from the bullet. I also imagine the brothers of the soldier's platoon assisting in the removal of the vest to make sure that the soldier was not injured. As the parent of a soldier, I believe this is one of the scariest parts of having a child in the military.
my dead brother . . .
hearing his laugh
in my laughter
Virgilio, SH, 62
I can imagine in this haiku the first time after the death of a sibling hearing the likeness of their voice in yourself or in the voice of a family member. I can imagine realizing that the person you lost is not gone forever, but that he or she still lives on in the lives of others. My sister shared with me when I read her this haiku the time when I was in an accident that almost claimed my life. My sister said that at that time every where she looked she saw me. Furthermore, she said every voice she heard was mine. I can imagine Virgilio went through the same thing. I imagine the first time he heard his brother's laugh in his own he realized that his brother would always be with him.
Viet Nam monument
darkened by the autumn rain:
my dead brother's name
Virgilio, SH, 68
I imagine in this haiku the first time Virgilio visited the Viet Nam monument after the death of his brother. Virgilio brings out nature in this haiku and allows you to experience the visitation of the monument with him. I can envision the cool autumn air at dusk with rain coming down as he walked up to the monument and read his brother's name. Furthermore, I can see him reaching out to touch his name as the rain falls all around him and the chill that went through him. I remember visiting a local memorial wall that had my husband's uncle's name. I remember it was the first time my husband had seen it and the tears that filled his eyes. We stood there in silence as we each touched the name. The feeling was so surreal. My husband never had the opportunity to meet his uncle, but that doesn't change the loss he feels.
so many names on the monument reflecting passersby
Virgilio, SH, 71
This haiku carries on from the previous. I can imagine seeing name after name after name of the soldiers that lost their lives during this terrible time. I can remember stories that my dad would tell me from his time in Vietnam. He lost a lot of friends during that time and their names appear on the wall. I can remember visiting a local wall and seeing Anthony Housh's name. I remember the reflection of myself as I stared at the wall. I imagine this is what all family members see as they stare at the wall that contains their loved one's name. Furthermore, I imagine those that just go to visit the wall and read the names of those that lost their lives. Regardless if they lost a service member during that time or not, I'm sure it is still very surreal. I'm sure they still have emotions that flow through them. I know I do. As you look at your reflection, I imagine the connection you can feel for the name in front of you. That person whose name is on that wall gave the ultimate sacrifice… their life. It takes me to think of my son, again. He has sacrificed the comforts of home and family to defend this great nation just as those that served in the Vietnam War did.
I like the way that Virgilio puts this haiku all in one line. It helps you to imagine the haiku as a "passerby." That passerby is someone who walks by the wall on a daily basis in a hurried manner on their way to somewhere. That passerby does not take the time to realize the sacrifices that each name represents. I imagine someone who does not realize that each one of those soldiers sacrificed their life for them. That person is too busy to stop and be thankful for the country that we have and for the families that lost loved ones during that time.
Works Cited
Virgilio, N. A. (2012). Nick Virgilio: A Life in Haiku. Arlington: Turtle Light Press.
Virgilio, N.A. (1988). Selected Haiku. Canada: Burnt Lake Press.
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