Siren Song

https://portside.org/2018-03-23/siren-song
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Author: Roy J. Adams
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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.


Source URL: https://portside.org/2018-03-23/siren-song