It seems fitting on Veterans’ Day to remember the ones that
were left behind. In Vietnam, we exited in haste and left POW’s there who were
never brought home. At first North Vietnam wanted to use them as bargaining
chips and when that didn’t happen, they became “embarrassments” to both the
United States (which abandoned them) and the Vietnamese (who claimed they didn’t
exist). Ultimately the years eliminated the “problem”.
It is a shameful part of our history that the politicians
would rather forget. The POW/MIA black flags are around to remind the world
that these soldiers should not be forgotten and such shameful behavior on the
part of our politicians should never happen again.
I wrote “POW/MIA”
(Riding in Boxcars,2006) as a
tribute to these soldiers and an indictment of the shabby treatment of them by
our government. Please say a little prayer for all those who have served their
country and never come back.
Glenn K. Currie
POW/MIA
A field of razor
grass,
Its borders
undefined.
Faded flags flown for
those,
Our nation left
behind.
Illusions scattered
here,
Like seeds on salted
earth.
Ghosts drifting in
the wind,
Souls searching for
rebirth.
A place where war
games played,
Controlled by
pinstriped suits.
Soldiers left to
answer,
With hesitant
salutes.
Then one day
abandoned,
Men left where they
had lain.
Stranded in this
far place,
Their country tired
of pain.
Now buried in long
shadows,
This field a place of
shame.
Razor grass the
prison,
O’er those who still
remain.
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