Here we go again fifty-two years later he is standing with cardboard sign that look in his eyes rumpled fatigue hat in front of Taco Time I got the deferment he got drafted the luck of the economic draw he comes home mostly ruined I get a corporate job ease my nagging conscience writing letters to the editor and congressmen who send me form letters my father frowns at me over breakfast unwilling to give up on the Whiz Kids (but he did) I tell him the names of dead friends he jerks to attention says he remembers that one that could be me holding my guts in place bleeding out in a jungle place with no name in a place I cannot locate on a map kids’ blood on the green jungle floor everywhere they are afraid while I sleep my eight o’clock Algebra II so many good friends lost for no good reason some lost in front of Taco Time I hand him a white bag #4 with tater tots and a drink from the drive-through lane he stares does not recognize me.
Simply outstanding.
This is one of my favorite poems.