4th of July
Oh! Say can you see…
Sand-bottom suit reigns over
polished mahogany table
Self-deluded importance,
self-inflicted cancerous fable
On vacant paper far off in an air
conditioned tent
Battle lines clear---time, treasure,
red blood spent
Out in the “hell”-world of a
mud-ugly field
Few pushed forward raw courage revealed
Trench, hedgerow, jungle, desert, or
beach
Bullets whine death while red
rockets screech
Brave men among men in a conscripted
army
Times political placid politicos
whip stormy
Prove your dog bigger, war takes a
terrible toll
What good small victory should man
lose his soul
By the dawn’s early light…
’Tis the man noble who always does his
best
For pure honest truth he stands tall
above all rest
Dark cold rain pelts hunkered souls that
glisten
Wraithlike eyes search as alerted
senses listen
Patriotic music causes young hearts
to soar
’Til soldier hears battle’s
cacophonous roar
Twilight’s last gleaming…
An innocent boy landed on some
hostile shore
Now battle-hard man feels innocence no more
Memorize love’s face on lone night
in his mind
Pray! God! Only live through courage
he will find
And the rockets’ red glare…
Surreal glaring light flares as
darkness is torn
Silent movie frames battle as all
hell is born
I see brave sergeant stand tall,
point and yell
Vaporized---best said words: War is
surely hell!
Bombs bursting in air…
Tracers fly as bullets sing their
song of death
I’d scream “Peace!” if only could
find breath
Flag was still there…
Ugly aftermath under a brand
new-born dawn
Far off safe Generals grandiose
plans do spawn
Biggest piece stolen, surely now
share pie
Fat lips flapping, surely a tell of
evil lie
Land of the free…
After it’s over and been and done
and said and all
They etch forgotten names on a cold
black marble wall
Home of the brave!
One day back home for heroes they’ll
march in a parade
Pray my sons and their sons defeat
this monster-charade
Amen!---and…AMEN!
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