A Poem For A Great Poet (Revised) Poem by RIC BASTASA

by the sea of manila
ebbs and tides
ruins of the old war
nay, all those who died
and raped and rampaged
rolled the sadness flashed
do or die the men all
oozing in misery

families vanished

armed only with rusty guns
swampy places they hid
undecided support from the U.S.
nonetheless they all fought
courage unwavering bravery surging
in those valleys and hills and mountains
onward the faith of those who prayed
no betrayal till the war was won.