Memorial Day

The following, poorly structured though it may be, is an attempt at poetry which I like to re-publish every Memorial Day. It is a distant and quick reflection of my first two and a half years in the army which began in September of 1969. Our nation began in the midst of war, was often formed in the midst of war, sustained through war, defeated evil and defended the entire world through war, and defends itself once again today through war. How many gave, and continue to give, that last full measure of life in defense of our beloved land! To my international friends... our military is part and parcel of our best, offered to you. If you do not like them, you would never like us. They are not representative of the majority of our college campuses nor are they representative of Wall Street or Hollywood. They are not only fighting for our safety, and yours, but for our way of life. It is harder to see the loss of lives today than it has ever been for the benefactor of our military prowess and the sustainer of our causes is less and less petitioned by the very government blessed as such. My sadness for lives lost extends to the memory of the fierce determination of the British during World War II, to the French Resistance, to the Poles...the Australians, the Filipinos, the Koreans, the Vietnamese, the Canadians, to the Contra rebels, and every ally and every resistance group that has stood alongside us over the years.

B. D.

Good-byes outside the Federal Building, hearts bursting with pride,
new friends, for a day or two anyway.
Where you from?
Meal tickets, cough, sign here, raise your hand, get on the bus,
a few hours to digest what happened.
Here's your bunk, here's your hat. It won't be too small tomorrow.
Lights out...lights on, get up.
Raise your left hand. The foot below that is your left foot.
Milk never tasted so good, nor liver.
Smoke'm if you got em.
Lights out, shut up. Lights on, get up.
"Hey new guy!" Eight weeks is a lot of seniority here.
March, run, push, carry, salute, stomach in, chest out.
Congratulations, pride, get on the bus.
Seven to three and turn the lights out when you want.
Boston ain't bad but a bald head would be normal today.
Home for the weekend, cab driver not impressed.
Here's your test, here's your test, here's your test.
Congratulations, another stripe, get on the bus.
Farewell party, pack light, good-bye.
White building, no windows, no news, no TV, just wait for your name, it could be a couple days.
Get on the plane.
Heat, aroma, concertina wire, dust, sun, water buffalo, silk, Pabst Blue Ribbon,
reel-to reel, abacus, burn detail, pretty Asian girls, 12 hour days...forever,
pills, mail call, piasters, conical hats, nouc mam, Mama San, number 10, dinky dow, tuk tuks,
maps, files, briefings, frequencies, "They're on the move," sleep, maps, files.
Whistle!
Bunkers, jokes, heat, siren.
Sand bags, guard duty, Asian Elvis, Buddha, kids, chocolate, Budweiser.
Whistle,
bunkers, no jokes, heat, siren.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July.
Sydney, Kings Cross, moneys gone, get on the plane.
Monsoons,
maps, files, briefings, frequencies.
Whistle,
bunkers, slop, siren.
Short time calender, "I hear they don't like us?" Protests, daydreams, maybe college.
Whistle
I remember you.