Eleven B Ten* Poem by ronald stroman

in seven years,
decorated war veterans,
will be coming for my next of kin.
I can tell them now, in 2005
how proud I am to be an American,
but, Afghanistan & Iraq is too far away
of a war-torn place,
for my son,
to stand “ready in reserve.”
in seven years,
they'll be comin' for
my son;
who'll then be 18,
like an 'army of one'
with recruiting posters,
singing 'God bless America';
which “sings” to me about the need
for more soldiers,
along with the promises of...

bronze & silver medals,
for my son,
I know are in no way,
associated with the Olympic games.
when they come,
I'll show them
nicely manicured cemeteries, in 2012,
where too many children,
will have been buried, by 'purple-hearted' parents
with emotions folded up,
in flags of grief.