CONCERNING THE WAR

Who can explain the knawing pain
Tucked deep in the pit of the stomach.
In Viet Nam the day is clear
With temperature at seventy.
Approaching Christmas Day,
One hundred and sixty-five passengers delivered,
Much to much traffic on the runway.

War is a big time game!
Big fighters with green & beige paint
Waiting in line to leave
like sheep being lead to the slaughter,
Helicopters floating by -
Look to the sky and you'll see,
It's hard to distinquish the birds from
The planes - wonder who will remain -

Now we in our bird are pounding
Down the pavement, watching the yellow line
  in time with the others
Who are waiting to descend and rest -
Repairs, sparks - fly as they lite -
Not easily though,
Parachute jumpers off to the right -
Now that we're in the sky - you can see,
Reflections of the clouds in the rice patties,
Waters and fields and stripes of green
  and blue
And buildings spotting the many towns around,
While leaving the men behind
To fight and die.
                                  ZCMI
                                 12/1967