The wreaths are piling up on the curb. Flags at half-staff line streets swept and stainless. Someone asks why, the crowd murmurs. I am beyond curiosity, tired of the story that begins with Glory ends in Blood. Glory, worshiped in the streets. Glory, bought with sin, greed and the end of innocence. Glory, balm for the living because the dead do not need soothing. Glory is paid for with Blood, with youth, salvation, faith – everything, all they have or ever will have. Blood is given in our name and we can only offer up sorrow, prayers, songs, statues. Blood should bring guilt, shame, truth, but we deny, deny, deny, deny the abomination we have become. 2,000 suicides, 3,000 dead, 130,000 killed, 6 million murdered, 60 million casualties… the numbers do not lie. Will we will go on counting the dead while rain polishes their headstones smooth? So do not ask me why so many flags are at half-staff. I will not give you the answer you want to hear. I will not mock the dead with vainglorious praise. They are the mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who paid the price of Blood and I will honor them with the truth.
Poetry on the run 
for me this posts timing is impeccable. platoon was on this past weekend and i haven’t seen it in over 20 years but, as i watched it in its 3 hour entirety I was once saddened, enraged and generally pissed off by the unnecessary mess of war and the sweet innocence lost on both sides. and yes the hypocrisy and bureaucratic bullshit that comes with it makes me spitting mad! i feel your sentiment up to my teeth and it makes me sick inside! good job 😉
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thank you for reading my poem. the loss of “sweet innocence” on every side is something to be sad and angry about at the same time. Platoon is a great and powerful film as is Full Metal Jacket.
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