VISIT TO THE VA - BEFORE AND AFTER

Sometimes waiting for service at the VA Hospital is a good thing. Read the poem I wrote before my appointment and the one I wrote after spending a little time with some other vets under an old oak tree. Have you ever seen mistletoe laying all over the ground? I told another 'Nam vet that all that easy to grab mistletoe was a childs Christmas gold-mine. Maybe even adults can find a little value in fallen mistletoe.

CUT WHO AND RUN WHERE?

CUT into the veteran and RUN your mouths some more
CUT us deeper this time, than you ever have before
Then, RUN lies by the voters, about a meager raise
Tell them it was high enough, and leave them in a haze

CUT into America and RUN those dreams away
CUT jobs and RUN the gas up, like you did today
Then, bring in cheaper labor, and RUN us into debt
CUT back on social programs, until there's nothing left

RUN away from serving, just like you did in 'Nam
RUN on only slogans, and next time blame Iran
Then, create a monster, before you drop the bomb
Tell them it's Saddam, or find a brand new name
Americans are stupid, they'll never see the game

CUT a new commercial, then RUN it night and day
CUT our civil rights back and RUN up your own pay
RUN us into poverty, before you RUN away
RUN away with billions, CUT taxes to the rich
RUN slogans by the millions, but make up a new pitch...

Cut and run won't cut it, when you CUT our right to live
Cut and run won't cut it, when there's nothing left to give
Cut and run sounds so cute, but will your voters give a hoot?
when thieves RUN fake elections, for a small share of the loot
Cut and run sure is fun, until your child picks up the gun
and medics cut off cut-rate gear, as blood runs in the sun



Mistletoe falls

Old soldiers sit in rows, underneath the oak
The young ones mill around,
they sit; they smoke; they joke
Mistletoe now fallen, rotting in the glads
Green, to brown, to ground
it falls; it turns; it fades

Old oak drops mistletoe, calmly, without care
Then, it's just expensive
it's trash; it's waste; it's there
Oak once held mistletoe, in such high esteem
a wintergreen defensive
so strong; so mean; so green

Mistletoe will never, adorn a Christmas tree
Nor earn a lovers kiss
it grew; it died; it's free
Underneath the oak, green leaves mix with brown
Days in oak they miss
of light, of life, of sound

I think the second poem is a bit better. What do you think?

and would like permission to mail this thread to a Viet Nam Vet Against War who is not on DU but who is a peace activist. Knowing what he's gone through since '68-I know he'll appreciate it.

I want no credit, nor blame. They're yours. Use them as you will. I'll even find a poem I did sunday and post it here later but it might be too much if your friend suffers from PTSD. I was appalled that they changed it's name again. Why do we have to rename it every time there's a war? First it was shell-shock but that brought things to mind that made people edgy. Then, in 'Nam, it was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but now there's a new name, which I can't remember right now. Anyhow, I'll post the other poem after I find it.

I'll let him know he can post this to his vet friends.

Oh yeah, the new pen-name is not "unknown soldier" it's UNKNOWN VETERAN.

I created the next poem as an email for all those who like sending me reich-wing garbage masking as Divine insight. Don't you hate that crap? I once read one about how GOD was such a "gentleman." I don't know which God they were talking about but in the Old Testament, the God of Abraham was no "gentleman."

THE GRUNTS' GIFT

If I could give them eyes to see - past profits from a war
Perhaps Iraq could then be free - to live; much like before
Perhaps they'd see it clear as day - when viewing their own child...
blowing other peoples' kids away - in conflict, now gone wild

If I could give them ears to hear - the muffled cries at night
Perhaps they'd listen to the fear - of missiles taking flight
Perhaps they'd hear a mothers' cry - a'weeping for her son...
who bought into a vicious lie - which truly serves no one

If I could give them hearts to feel - the sorrow and the pain
Perhaps they'd fear a death from steel - as missions go insane
Perhaps they'd feel their bones break - when hidden bombs explode...
near their child who serves for freedoms' sake - along a dusty road

If I could give them minds to soar - about the greater cost
Perhaps we only win at war - when we measure what we've lost
Perhaps they'll learn, to truly win - and swiftly end this game...
that keeps the score of countless sin - on walls too black to name

If I could give them lips to taste - the blood of their best friend
Perhaps they'd stop this hellish waste - and let the killing end
Perhaps if they could taste her blood - as it spews into their face...
they'll hang their heads to curb its flood - and end Iraq's disgrace

If I could give them strength to smell - a ripe corpse in the sun
Perhaps they'd sniff up deaths' hot hell - of battles lost, not won
Perhaps they'd sense sulphuric smoke - arising in the air...
that masks the stench of profits joke - for folks that do not care

sign here________________


It was written by an unknown veteran, heading for the VA Hospital. Please support our troops by signing your name to this poem before passing it along. Emailing this poem to everyone you know will save lives, which serves God and Humanity.
Patrick

I spend way too much time waiting at the VA hospital talking to other vets. That is the one thing that is always there the easy conversation, there is a camaraderie which the chickenhawks will never understand.

I say send the non-serving bas---- to a VA and let them see their cuts.Nurse gone by the dozens rooms full of men missing legs an arms. Men and Women laying in their own stuff because not enough staff. Vets being turn away by the 100's Old Soldiers homes closing. 18 VA hospital closing closing clinics Sorry brother I am pissed off I deal with vets everyday and see their eyes when they are put on waiting list. Or the homeless vets who have lost all hope. I got to go before I get madder

who knows?... we cast enough seeds and internet winds might blow them to fertile soil.

be on editorial pages around this country!

if not, are the others expendable? who went to Vietnam? the expendables...? all went to ww2 and the country backed them...& don't forget IKE MADE MANY BEAR WITNESS...SO THEY WOULD HAVE NO EXCUSE!!!! sadly, both wars were not long ago..& here we are again & again &...?

Very moving!

And speak very well to the sad situation with our Veterans. The past, present and future ones.

:applause: :patriot:

I blogged it. If you want your actual name on it, PM me. That's the best response to "cut and run" that I've seen. :hug:

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/

who knows, maybe they'll build a statue some day.

said the author wanted it forwarded!!! hope all can access w or w/out being a member here...

It deals with modern religion and you'll like it if you're a liberal Christian, agnostic or atheist. If you're a fundamentalist Christian who likes Pat Robertson and his type, you'll hate this longer (and I hope somewhat funny) poem.

perchance you should think publication

it seems to me there has to be a more efficient way of linking "us" together...nos. matter in war!...they can't hear us yet!!! one of us is worth more than a zillion-zillion...roves that titty baby piece of shit...my cats can kick his ignorant fucking ass!!!!!

I especially liked the first one. Awesome job! :thumbsup: