Reluctant Warrior

U~nbidden, the draft was upon me,
N~ewly turned from the halls of high school.
I~nspired by the Vets at the legion,
T~o enlist and become Uncle's tool.
E~xpecting to serve with distinction,
D~ogma served warm and fresh to a fool.

S~ent off as a man-child to Asia,
T~o enroll in a myopic war,
A~nd line pockets of war profiteers;
T~ransfer bleeding from wealthy to poor.
E~verything that I learned in that conflict
S~ent the message to soldier no more.

A~nd finding no reason for staying,
R~ealized that my motive and drive,
M~y labor was chosen to ensure
Y~oung soldiers would return home alive.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Dufresne Avatar
September 16, 2010 at 5:41 PM
excellent wayne !! Congratulations to you on your insight and poem and win!
Dietrich Avatar
September 13, 2010 at 9:40 PM
YOu make it sound like you got out and maybe protested?? Love the title of this one, a well deserved win. Luv, Andrea
Fraser Avatar
September 12, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Wayne, many congratulations on your win in Carolyn's contest >> James
Roberts Avatar
September 11, 2010 at 8:00 PM
fantastic, congrats on your win
Neels Avatar
September 11, 2010 at 5:43 AM
Wayne congrats on your 2nd place with this brilliant acrostic in Carolyn's contest :) Wilma
Horsman Avatar
September 11, 2010 at 12:10 AM
excellent poem on the way it is, Wayne, enjoyed this ever so much. congrats, Harry
Mehta Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Congratulations on the second place win, Wayne
Freeman Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 7:03 PM
Congratulations Wayne on an excellent Acrostic! Agape, Moses
Scripca Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 6:31 PM
Congratulations on your win in Carolyn Devonshire's contest. Love, iolanda
Brown Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Congratulations on your win in Carolyn's contest Wayne. Love Carol
Gorelick Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 4:41 PM
Congrats Wayne on this creative and thoughtful poem..You may have been reluctant but I thank you anyway.BG
Haick Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 3:48 PM
Great 2nd Place Win..Congratulations Wayne. Peace, Audrey
Johnson Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 3:46 PM
Great work and congratulations. Love, Joyce
Sweetheart Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 3:17 PM
Congrats Wayne on your big win in the Work contest.. an awesome piece and super victory for u to enjoy my friend..with luv..
Devonshire Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 1:35 PM
This was so powerful and moving, Wayne. So much truth expressed in this outstanding acrostic. Congratulations on taking second place in the contest. Love, Carolyn
La France Avatar
September 7, 2010 at 6:43 PM
Thanks for commenting on my poetry. I really think you have a gift, a gift for writing, you captured the senseless waste of life in war, how many do not return home... Love Constance
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
September 7, 2010 at 12:57 PM
Extremists on either end are the problem. I agree with you more than you know. I still believe the corporate structure AKA Bush admin knew about 9/11 in August. My Brother is a disabled Nam vet (Navy Corpsman). We fought a useless war to protect Shell and Exxon. I dropped out to protest the war, then re-enlisted in78 under Carter. Vince
Palli Avatar
September 7, 2010 at 9:21 AM
soon war will be no more! (Isaiah 2:4)
Kapoor Avatar
September 7, 2010 at 8:14 AM
Lovely piece of Acrostic and an excellent way to bring in lime light the bleakness of war. In such a situation doing the job of saving people is a creditable act. Beautiful write. And many thanks for your comments on the Poem For the Teacher its main credit goes to that great US writer whose poem moved me a lot. A copy of this brilliant Poem 'Douglas Malloch' should be circulated to all the teachers any where in the world. Love and best wishes...Ravindra...Wayne Sapp.
Smalling Avatar
September 7, 2010 at 6:43 AM
Peace and blessings, my friend. However you got there, we still owe you much. One love
Wilson Avatar
September 6, 2010 at 3:43 PM
Really wonderful insight into the bleakness of war..Well done..Take care~Deb
Devonshire Avatar
September 6, 2010 at 2:54 PM
A powerful acrostic, Wayne. If it was your task to ensure the safety of other soldiers, you were serving as a minister of God. I think heaven cries each time nations engage in wars. Beautifully touching poem! Love, Carolyn
Sweetheart Avatar
September 6, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Wayne an amazing piece ... my youngest is in Iraq serving in Air Force and was just sent home for an emergency appendectomy bursting so now recuperating in Mississippi base hospital .. he is 19 ..too.. and an eye opener the military life surely is my friend... thankxxx for bringing this to a poem and making us all aware luv..
A  Avatar
September 6, 2010 at 11:39 AM
Awesome, Wayne! Nice future you have here to share with us. My son plans to enroll, hope he does it for the right reasons. Enjoyed*luv~SKAT
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