ALL THE YOUNG MEN

The headlines screamed about the war
Which raged in Viet Nam,
While students marched on campuses
In protest of the bomb.

I watched them burn their draft cards and
Then riot in the streets,
And all the headlines told us of
American retreats.

I went to see this war which claimed
The lives of our young men.
The tragedies I saw I pray
I never see again.

I saw a soldier there who’d been
A victim of a mine.
Aside from losing both his legs,
He seemed to be quite fine.

I saw the tears which came into
The eyes of one Marine
Who stared in silence at the death
Caused by an M-16.

I met some truly fine young men,
But many of them died
For things they couldn’t understand
No matter how they tried.

All wars are needless; men can’t see
That peace is what they need.
Instead they make their politics
While all the young men bleed.

Jan. 6, 1983

© 2010 – 2011, Steven R. Drennon. All rights reserved.

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