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If Old Men Fought

Missing image
An old man, looking out his door,
gaze fixed on a distant shore,
reminiscing to a time, not of happiness,
or, the prospect of a bright future in store,
to when he was sick, to his very core,
to when as a youth, he went to war

A time before infallibility had meaning,
patriotism and bravado the craze,
the future was still a maze,
zest for life, at its all time high,
a time for romance, partying, buying,
no thought of pain, deformity, dying

Too young, to understand or question,
ship to foreign shore, medals abound,
sacrifice not temporary,
forever more,
a legacy etched into a wall, few will remember,
flesh shredded, burned, torn,
families mourn

A time, when he willingly went to war,
will happen no more,
all lost in youth, now hardcore,
no blind obedience,
minimal risk,
long life, his number one chore

As he turns back from the door,
he thinks of the youth,
here now, soon no more,
lessons never learned,
the call to war,
to common the roar,
complacency the mood,
another generation removed

The old man agonizes,
over what was,
originally not known,
war is preventable,
life too precious to waste,
the solution simple,
his vision, maybe too late

Send old men, to the front, to fight,
arthritis, heart disease, poor eyesight,
let the youth enjoy their life,
his near over, its only right

Send old men, to the front, to fight
ask them, to give up their life,
patriotism and bravado, still right,
will and desire, wouldn't last the night,
old men don't rush to death, in their twilight,
failure inevitable, the old man smiles,
knows he's right

Wars not possible,
if old men, are sent to fight

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Comments

1 - 5 of 5

  • Beautiful-N-Broken gold member
    October 11, 2007
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    Thanks for entering. Good luck with the contest!


  • a sweetheart lost
    January 29, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Nice write. I like the feel of the poem. It is a perfect length. Thank you very much for following the rules of this contest. That might just win a hard decision to your side and get you a gold. Thank you for entering.


  • PowerOfLove
    December 10, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Wow Mac, this was an excellent write, and how true. For the mature know that war is usually based on one side being power hungry or for appearances sake (for the vote), whilst the youth can only see the adventure, rather than the cost. Very thought provoking as always. Well done.


  • msbhaver
    December 10, 2004
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    Again

    Okay Mac, now yoou have to tell me what's really going on, I mean this one too? Is there something I'm missing, b/c again, what an amazing piece, and somehow I feel as though you just let it flow out of you effortlessly, you would have to, i mean most people don't sit around and look for the perfect words to put into a political note. I think you're brilliant, so far I've read two, but I don't think I'll stop until I'm unimpressed and quite honestly I can't imagine reading something of yours that doesn't move me in one way or another! Thanx for sharing, I'm going to the next..


  • foreverrunning
    December 9, 2004
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    wow...this is a very powerful...so emotional...and so right....very great job on this...it was written with the style of a great poet...keep up the awesome work!
    Megan

1 - 5 of 5