The Korean War

The Korean War

For John Lewis Bradshaw, My Father

That blue square with the white letters

When sited target makes

Upon helmet or upon uniform,

Coppery, salty red lakes.

It’s not our war, but we are there

To save a peninsula from Red Peril,

We carry the war, to our dismay,

Like fish caught in a barrel.

A human wave poured out upon

The Father against the Son…

Divide them up and let them have

Demilitarized zone, not won…

Then let our soldiers coming out

Find a Red Cross no friend…

Not only give blood to pay blood

But also their own coins they spend.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.

Oops!

Oops!

A hot-headed Marine answered the phone

And shouted in vulgar obscenities.

On the other end, now angry too,

“Do you know who you are talking to?”

“No.”

A general.

“Sir, do you know who you are talking to?”

“No, sir.”

“Good.”

Click.

And the Marine made a rapid retreat.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.

The Korean War

The Korean War

For John Lewis Bradshaw, My Father

That blue square with the white letters

When sited target makes

Upon helmet or upon uniform,

Coppery, salty red lakes.

It’s not our war, but we are there

To save a peninsula from Red Peril,

We carry the war, to our dismay,

Like fish caught in a barrel.

A human wave poured out upon

The Father against the Son…

Divide them up and let them have

Demilitarized zone, not won…

Then let our soldiers coming out

Find a Red Cross no friend…

Not only give blood to pay blood

But also their own coins they spend.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.