VETERANS DAY
He shares each Veterans Day
With his dead friends,
The ones dying before
Their next birthday,
With his dead friends,
The ones dying before
Their next birthday,
In rice paddies,
In tall razor-edged strands of elephant grass,
In Armored Personnel Carriers
Triggering 500 pound delayed
In tall razor-edged strands of elephant grass,
In Armored Personnel Carriers
Triggering 500 pound delayed
Stick mines,
In bunkers deep-rooted
In two feet of water
During three months of monsoon,
In bunkers deep-rooted
In two feet of water
During three months of monsoon,
Collapsing under the weight
Of enemy 122mm mortars.
To them he lifts his amber glass,
Toasts them all in honor
Of enemy 122mm mortars.
To them he lifts his amber glass,
Toasts them all in honor
Of their esteemed short lives,
Lives taken from them
By powerful men
Playing Cold War games
Lives taken from them
By powerful men
Playing Cold War games
Like Father knows best,
Lecturing his children
To give their lives
For God and country.
Lecturing his children
To give their lives
For God and country.
Knowing that one day
He will meet them
On the other side
In a joyous celebration
He will meet them
On the other side
In a joyous celebration
Of his return.
Wow, that one certainly hits the reader like a fist in the gut! Powerful, evocative work!
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