Memorial Day 2009 Part III

War is relegated to history.
for most people.
For others
war becomes
part of their daily lives.
It infects
their dreams,
their families,
their jobs
their relation
to the world.
Forever stranded
place and time,
spirit and body
wounded and defiled.
Returning from war,
they are proud
not because
they are happy
to have gone to war --
the human part of man
should be ashamed
he went to war --
that part of him
which feels pride
is the vain part of man,
the empty part of man.
The human part has the shame.
Who better represents
the preciousness of life,
the need for peace
the human cost of making war.