My boy

In commemoration to a fruitless war

I did not want to go. They inducted me. I did not want to die. They called me yellow. I tried to run away. They courtmartialed me. I did not shoot. They said I had no guts. I cried in pain. They carried me to safety. In safety I died. They blew taps over me. They crossed out my name And buried me under a cross. They made a speech in my home town. I was unable to call them liars. They said I gave my life. I had struggled to keep it. They said I set an example I had tried to run. They said they were proud of me. I had been ashamed of them. They said my mother should be proud. My mother cried. I wanted to live. They called me a coward. I died a coward. They called me a hero

Reviews

[Emily]

I'm afraid I don't understand where you're going with this. Either you're criticizing the military, or you're criticizing this (fictional?) soldier.

Either way, you're criticizing the war by calling it 'fruitless'. As much as I don't like it when people do that, it's your right to state your opinion. That's exactly why these people are out there dying, so we have the freedoms to speak our minds and not worry about being attacked.

Outside of my personal feelings, you've done a very good piece. I like the opposing views and how you've put them together. You're a good writer, and a good poet. It's too bad you're on that side of the argument, though.