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



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Date: 9/16/2010 5:41:00 PM
excellent wayne !! Congratulations to you on your insight and poem and win!
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Date: 9/13/2010 9:40:00 PM
YOu make it sound like you got out and maybe protested?? Love the title of this one, a well deserved win. Luv, Andrea
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Date: 9/12/2010 10:16:00 AM
Wayne, many congratulations on your win in Carolyn's contest >> James
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Date: 9/11/2010 8:00:00 PM
fantastic, congrats on your win
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Date: 9/11/2010 5:43:00 AM
Wayne congrats on your 2nd place with this brilliant acrostic in Carolyn's contest :) Wilma
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Date: 9/11/2010 12:10:00 AM
excellent poem on the way it is, Wayne, enjoyed this ever so much. congrats, Harry
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Date: 9/10/2010 7:55:00 PM
Congratulations on the second place win, Wayne
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Date: 9/10/2010 7:03:00 PM
Congratulations Wayne on an excellent Acrostic! Agape, Moses
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Date: 9/10/2010 6:31:00 PM
Congratulations on your win in Carolyn Devonshire's contest. Love, iolanda
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Date: 9/10/2010 5:24:00 PM
Congratulations on your win in Carolyn's contest Wayne. Love Carol
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Date: 9/10/2010 4:41:00 PM
Congrats Wayne on this creative and thoughtful poem..You may have been reluctant but I thank you anyway.BG
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Date: 9/10/2010 3:48:00 PM
Great 2nd Place Win..Congratulations Wayne. Peace, Audrey
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Date: 9/10/2010 3:46:00 PM
Great work and congratulations. Love, Joyce
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Date: 9/10/2010 3:17:00 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..
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Date: 9/10/2010 1:35:00 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
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Date: 9/7/2010 6:43:00 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
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Date: 9/7/2010 12:57:00 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
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Date: 9/7/2010 9:21:00 AM
soon war will be no more! (Isaiah 2:4)
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Date: 9/7/2010 8:14:00 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.
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Date: 9/7/2010 6:43:00 AM
Peace and blessings, my friend. However you got there, we still owe you much. One love
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Date: 9/6/2010 3:43:00 PM
Really wonderful insight into the bleakness of war..Well done..Take care~Deb
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Date: 9/6/2010 2:54:00 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
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Date: 9/6/2010 12:52:00 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..
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Date: 9/6/2010 11:39:00 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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