In recent years Navy Reads posted blogs on the found haiku of Abraham Lincoln, Mike Krzyzewski, Marshawn Lynch and other leaders, coaches and philosophers. "Found haiku" are discovered in the writings or utterances of others and fit the three-line 5/7/5-syllable rule and goal of communicating deeply but in few words.
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| Sen. John S. McCain III reenlists Sailor of the Year ET2 Michael Papapietro in Cam Ranh, Vietnam aboard destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) June 2, 2017. (Photo by MC3 Joshua Mortensen). |
Like all humans, he is not perfect, and he is the first to admit so. In fact, his self-awareness and self-assessment provide a treasure-trove of words from which to find these found haiku gems.
Most of these words reflect McCain's thoughts about war, service, sacrifice, captivity, character, resilience and reflection. The Vietnam War understandably casts a long shadow in his life as it does for our nation.
Leading with honor
is about putting service
to others ahead
Immortality ...
the aspiration of my
youth has slipped away
Time to examine
what I have done and failed to
do with my career
All people, even
captured enemies, possess
basic human rights
For two centuries
men of my family were
raised to go to war
Freedom: America's
honor, and the honor comes
with obligations
A few stories from
my misspent youth that I had
managed to bury
If you valued them,
and held them strongly, love and
honor would endure
In Vietnam I (came)
to understand how brief a
moment a life is
Defying death's call
in ... (the) bamboo cages of
South Vietnam haunt
There are some stories
of the soul that extend far
beyond prison walls
We paced the open
compound at Plantation Camp
together, waiting
communicating...
affirmed our humanity.
It kept us alive
communicating
was the indispensable
key to resistance
It was best to take
the long view (that) we would get
home when we got home
Glory belongs to
the act of being constant
to something greater
To a cause, to your
principles, to the people
on whom you rely
Before Vietnam
the truth of honor ... courage ...
obscure to many
I learned the truth in
war: there are greater pursuits
than (just) self-seeking.
I have managed to
prevent bad memories of
war from intruding
(I regretted)
I hadn't read more
books so I could keep my mind
better occupied
The headstones bear the
names of people of every
ethnic origin
The final resting
places of professional
soldiers and conscripts
Rich and poor, Christian,
Jew, and muslim; believer
and non-believer
The last three found haiku come from McCain's "13 Soldiers: A Personal History of Americans at War" (Simon and Schuster, 2014, written with Mark Salter). Salter has served on McCain's staff for more than two decades. |
| John McCain reassesses in 1973. |
McCain, with collaborator Mark Salter, just published another memoir, "The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights and Other Appreciations," to be published May 22 and to be featured in a future Navy Reads post.
NPR published an excerpt that brings forth more John McCain found haiku, and in the classic form – bringing forth nature themes:
I'd like to go back
to our valley ... see the creek
run after the rain
cottonwoods whisper
in the wind ... smell rose scented
breeze and feel the sun
I want to watch the
hawks hunt from the sycamore
and then take my leave
Hear the truth, passion and peace in McCain's words and voice. McCain's memoirs show how much he revered his grandfather, respected his father and loves his mother, Roberta. He feels especially close to his mom.
Happy Mother's Day 2018.
John McCain and his mother, Roberta, on NBC's Meet the Press in 2007.
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