a Protester sent me an email today
protesting things I had to say
It seems a poem I put on the ‘net
sparked a twinge of conscience
"Why did you say those things you said?
You raised ideas best left dead!
You made me think of what I did
and I don't like thinking about that
You made me think of men that died
after Tet ’68, on either side
You said we'd won but North Vietnam
got comfort from us and just held on
I was quite content before you wrote
but the poem left me with self-doubt
why did you write those thoughts so deep
why did you do it, now I can't sleep
You made me think of people dead
and countries enslaved
and GIs heads
lost in the streets
and children's pain
and no one gained
is that what my actions cost?
You made me think
you've caused me grief
now I can't sleep
were you just being mean?"

Like the man at the ticket booth says
…Next

© Gary Lillie - May not be reproduced without the express permission of the author.