Standing Muster Poem by Michael Pruchnicki

I suppose if you didn't know better
you may have thought in your innocence
that all we had to do as soldiers
was fall out in good order for inspection
and count off ONE! TWO! THREE!
as the platoon leader reported us
present and accounted for
to the first sergeant

Like insects in columns we marched
to the cadence of squad leaders
down the dusty roads to our destiny
awaiting us around the next bend,
always in good order toward the foe
poised to strike and destroy us
all in proper order one by one

Now we lie row on row
in good military order
beneath metal markers
from sea to shining sea

God bless us one and all!