1970
The children wrote to soldiers in Vietnam
to learn about language arts and geography.
The popular girl’s pen pal wrote back, sent gifts,
strode into Room 6 once on leave, all camouflage
and smiles. The soldier and students pledged
allegiance, sang God Bless America.
Miss Lane accompanied on autoharp.
New vocab words were patriotism and heroism.
The children who walked home passed another soldier
most days. Frayed in his Army jacket, he stood
on one crutch, one foot, in the middle of the street
arms outstretched like Jesus.
Cars avoided him like a fallen wire.
He begs for booze money, the mothers said.
Go home, Jimmy, the crossing guard said.
Hippie and druggie, the big kids said.
Sundays, families piled into station wagons,
stopped at full-service gas stations, where attendants
gave free drinking glasses etched with, Ask not
what your country can do for you … We
collected them to fill with milk for dinner.
Life is unfair … was another JFK quote.
People still repeat that one like it’s news.
It’s short and to the point. Like Jesus wept.
Powerful. Good work!