Veteran’s Day – Flash 55 (“Enlisted”)
Thinking of Veteran’s Day today. This is also a post for Friday Flash 55. (Tell it to the G-Man.)
Enlisted
What they carry–
the risk of not coming back,
or coming back different;
of being killed,
maimed;
killing, maiming;
coming back
different;
love/hate.
not-necessarily-hate/gun/mission,
training/sweetness/
us.
Somebody’s got to do it.
The risk of coming back
some body.
Know somebody now
joined up.
May he stay
joined,
up,
himself.
PS – I’ve slightly edited the poem since first posting this morning. (Almost all the poems I post are drafts, so changes are needed.) Kept to the 55 words though!
PPS – I wanted to fit a little more love into the poem, but have been a bit constrained by the 55 word limit. I do want to take this opportunity to send love, thanks and blessings to all veterans on this day and every day.
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Tags: Friday Flash 55, image of soldier, manicddaily, ManicDDaily poetry, poem about enlisted men
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ManicDDaily 
November 11, 2011 at 9:01 am
thank you for remembering them…they do us a great service…
November 11, 2011 at 9:02 am
thought-provoking & very well done
November 11, 2011 at 10:06 am
Wonderful finishing lines, very clever.
A most apt tribute at this time.
November 11, 2011 at 10:21 am
God Bless EVERY veteran.
Loved your most excellent 55
Great pic to go with it.
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
November 11, 2011 at 10:50 am
Agreed, thanks. You too.
November 11, 2011 at 10:37 am
Yes they all come back different. But they wanted to go. Enlisted. Intrigued with guns and killing. Enlisted, says it all. I’m conflicted. My generation was drafted and renounced. This one is enlisted and revered. Good poem.
November 11, 2011 at 12:01 pm
amazing tribe to those who serve.
you are thoughtful.
😉
November 11, 2011 at 12:11 pm
They deserve to be honored. Thanks.
November 11, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Maybe someday we’ll all come to realize that nobody HAS to do it.
November 12, 2011 at 8:18 am
This is a wonderful Veterans Day poem. It packs a real punch. I thank them all (and you for writing this tribute).
November 12, 2011 at 8:45 am
Thanks, Mary.