REMEMBER: For Our Veterans: Three Poems

REMEMBER: For Our Veterans: Three Poems

SERVED

Served his country. Brought home
medals to show what he did, left
his mind, his innocence behind:
it wasn't enough.

Served her Nation. Did not face
the hell of war, but paid in other
ways, with injury. Still in pain --
it wasn't enough.

SERVED. All that matters. They
didn't sacrifice to be forgotten:
what they did. What they do:
m o r e than enough.

WAR IS HELL II

... tried looking him in the eyes. Mine
keep wandering to where legs should
be. Used to tower over me, now half

my height, in a wheelchair. Thoughts
inside worm out: "Did it hurt? Do you
regret serving your country?" His reply

snaps back, as quick and razor-sharp
as a salute: "Your country, too. Better
me than you or one of your children."

WHO IS THE ENEMY - THEY OR I?

Your hatred of me runs down my
cheek, slime hawked along with a
name: Babykiller.

Your protest of me runs hot in my
veins, anger thrown like bombs
designed to maim and kill.

And yet it is perfectly acceptable
for the enemy to use their own as
incendiary devices.

And yet it is perfectly acceptable
for our men to be charged with
crimes against humanity.

The double standard must stop.

all (c) 2008, Karla Dorman.