Gen. Borling’s poetry, published in Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton, offers a rare and deeply moving glimpse into the emotional and psychological terrain of war, captivity, and resilience. Composed during his seven years as a POW in North Vietnam and shared through a secret tap code, these poems stand as a testament to the enduring power of language, memory, and the human spirit. As Brian Turner wrote in The Washington Post, Borling uses “verse as a means of preserving the imagination, verse as a bulwark against that which would destroy our individual humanity.” This work, written under unbelievable circumstances, provides more than just insight: it is a historical document, personal testimony, and expression of the spirit. But what is next after the final stanza is read?
For readers moved by Taps on the Walls, Master Wings Publishing recommends the following books—each expanding on the themes of captivity, war, resistance, and reflection. Together, they create a richer, more complex portrait of the era
1.) P.O.W. A Definitive History of the American Prisoner-Of-War Experience in Vietnam, 1964-1973 By John G. Hubbell, Andrew Jones, Kenneth Y Tomlinson
ISBN: 978-0595138883
PMML link: https://pritzkermilitarylibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1991209
Based on nearly a decade of in-depth research and hundreds of firsthand interviews, P.O.W. stands as a landmark chronicle of the American POW experience during the Vietnam War. Praised by former POWs like Col. George E. “Bud” Day, USAF (Ret.), who likened its authority to Blackstone’s Commentaries on law, the book offers a compelling, unflinching narrative. Rich with maps of compounds and photographs, it’s an emotional and yet factual account of the experiences of U.S. servicepeople in Southern Vietnamese prison camps. Picking up this title after Borling’s would allow the reader to add many more perspectives to their picture.
2.) Carrying the Darkness: The Poetry of the Vietnam War Edited by William Daniel Ehrhart
ISBN: 978-0896721876
PMML link: https://pritzkermilitarylibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/18836128
While Gen. Borling’s Taps on the Walls is remarkable for its use of coded language and the extraordinary circumstances under which it was written—composed and shared during his imprisonment—it is part of a larger body of powerful Vietnam-era poetry. Carrying the Darkness, an anthology published in 1989, features the voices of seventy-five other period poets, offering readers a broader and deeply moving collection of verse from that time. For those inspired by Borling’s work, this anthology provides even more poignant, visceral, and unforgettable reflections on war and its aftermath.
Prisoner of War: Six Years in Hanoi by John M. McGrath
ISBN: 978-1591145073
PMML link: https://pritzkermilitarylibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/3104192
Captured in 1967 after being shot down over Vietnam, John M. McGrath’s tale of survival and years of suffering is documented in this collection of his drawings. A courageous and matter-of-fact account from a self-taught artist, this medium offers perspective and impact that others cannot. McGrath’s assessments provide a visceral and visual counterpoint to Borling’s poetic one
The Colonial Bastille: A History of Imprisonment in Vietnam, 1862-1940 by Peter Zinoman
ISBN: 978-0520224124
PMML link: (article only) https://pritzkermilitarylibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/4895697593
Moving now from primary accounts to works that use those accounts to provide wider analysis, The Colonial Bastille is a compelling example of an insightful study of the colonial prison system in Vietnam. Creating what author Ann Stoler describes as “a wonderful, lucidly argued, and meticulously documented book,” Zinoman draws the lines between the cruelty of the penal system and its ineffectiveness in quashing dissent to the revolutionary passion that led to Vietnam’s independence. For readers interested in the broader historical context that shaped Borling’s captors—and their methods—The Colonial Bastille offers essential background and political insight.
The Enemy in Our Hands: America’s Treatment of Prisoners of War from the Revolution to the War on Terror by Robert C. Doyle
ISBN: 978-0813134604
PMML link: https://pritzkermilitarylibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/460059221
For those who want reciprocal information on American treatment of POWs after hearing how American POWs were treated in Taps on the Walls, The Enemy in Our Hands seeks to comprehensively answer your questions. Covering America’s incarceration and interrogation practices from the American Revolution through Afghanistan, this is a work that approaches with distinction and gradation a complex subject America has struggled with since its inception. For readers of Taps on the Walls, this book provides important reciprocal understanding—and a nuanced look at how values, laws, and moral choices have shaped wartime incarceration.
Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton leaves an impact that lingers long after the final page, and hopefully one that inspires the reader to seek additional perspectives and information around the period. These recommendations are just a few of the many paths available into the broader landscape surrounding Borling’s experience, but are sure to provide insight for those seeking to honor the voices of those who endured and to gain a more nuanced understanding of the conflict.
