Siren Song
By Roy J. Adams
You’ll man up
When glory calls
You have guts
You have balls
O what a game
O what a thrill
Who next to maim
Who next to kill
It’s your big scene
It’s what you want
It’s in your genes
You fine young grunt
And when you’re done
We’ll build an altar
Shoot off guns
Swear you matter
Soldier Boy
O bold and stoic
Soldier Boy
We’ll be true to you
Roy J. Adams is a semi-retired professor of International Human Rights Law and Industrial Relations as well as an award-winning poet. He is a dual, Canadian-American, citizen who was raised in Philadelphia, educated at Penn State and the University of Wisconsin and served for three years in the U. S. Army from 1961-1964. His poem is intended to be ironic but also captures the mesmeric tune that young men hear because of the lionizing of the soldier by the media.
Spread the word