Good Mourning

The Warriors' Wasting
by Scott Maddock


A young man, I volunteered to serve
Protecting your freedom and the weak.
Fought for those who quickly lose their nerve
Yet bravely send us our deaths to seek.

Cowards at home applaud, pundits lie,
Living high while carnage knows no side.
Can't even watch men they sent to die.
"To view our dead serves the other side."

On coming home there's no jobs to find.
Warrior's skills sent to the garbage heap,
"Don't compete with those who stayed! Don't mind,
It's only fair their plunder they keep. "

These "cautious" ones steal your liberties
Call compassion or discourse treason,
Want your thoughts to cease; and fears increase.
The only thing they fear is reason.

Sugared voices, strident calls, the same
Message spreads. With them or against them,
It's your only choice. An ancient game
To be sure; it is their precious gem.

You worship the puppet master's skills,
Let the warriors take their poison pills,
Masters do not pay for sins or kills,
It's the warriors lot to bear those ills.

I pray for those now fighting. To God:
Give them strength and hope. May each that lives
Have champions of their own, and God,
Save our warriors from conservatives.


I know I'm not a poet. But attempting verse keeps it short.

I guess I'm not the only one contemplating leaving the United States. An interesting article about the subject. Not so much the content, which totally misses the thought that paying taxes in this country may well be an immoral act, or as the Catholics would say, "A mortal sin." Rather the fact that it is considered newsworthy.

I'm heartened and saddened by the large number of people who are evaluating the ethics of living in this country. If I get serious about the possibility of moving in a year, I better start making plans and job applications in about six months. Maybe, I'll try dissent first.