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It is Cut and dried.

It is Cut and dried.

A Poem by Coyote Poetry
"

Old words still mean the same.

"
                    It is cut and dried.

Old man sitting at the Old Fox tavern.
Drinking his rum and coke and rolling a Silver Star in his hand.
The Silver Star given for killing many in untrue wars.
He knew the Army appeased him with this token keepsake.
He put the medal on the table.
Drinking down the last sip.
He ordered another rum and coke.

I sat with my father.
He give me a smile of welcome and ordered me a beer.
He was only forty.  His anger driven him to kill often in the civilian world.
He pay his due in prison for manslaughter in self-defense.

He told me.
"it cut and dried son. A old Ojibwa/Mexican had no chance.
I was a residual of a man who only skill was to kill for a government who
consume the poor youth for the profit of war. I have toil for many years.
People looked at me with fear. I was a imperfect beast create by poverty and war."

I had joined the military like my father.
I was a poor kid with no place to go.

I saw the struggle and disappointment in his eyes.
War is fought by the poor people for the rich man gain.

My father smile and told me. "No benefit to swim in old thoughts.
Disgrace memories are the curse of a silver man. I need more rum my son.
I was bold and daring once. I volunteered for war. I killed many in the Korean war.
Left brother in unmarked graves forgotten. It is okay son. Cut and dried son, there is no good
ending for a drunk Indian with no place to go."

I sat many night waiting for my father to request to go home.
I learn later. Many men from the Vietnam and Korean war era tried to drink themselves to death.

There are many murals of men who fought and died together.
Men who were serenaded song of war and glory by a heartless government.
I believe many more died at home than the battlefield.
Agent orange and the chaos of war cursed their vision to focus on real life.

My father told me often. " Don't allow anyone to look down at you. Get education and show
the world you are their equal and more. Too many had died for you to accept s**t from anyone."

In the end. My father was killed by the booze and the memory of war.
I drink the long Island ice teas and I roll my father's silver stars.
I pray he found peace in death.
     Coyote

© 2013 Coyote Poetry


Author's Note

Coyote Poetry
My father died in 1996 in September. He come into my thoughts and dreams to remind me. I must ensure my kids have a fair chance.

My Review

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Featured Review

Coyote you are a fine storyteller! The subject doesn't seem to matter you write with and transfer great emotion to your reader. This was a very poignant poem and oh so true. About a year and a half ago my brother-in-law passed away far too young from lymphoma caused, we suspect, by agent orange. The government he served and died for would never recognize the true cause! I feel for you, your dad, my brother-in-law's family, and all those so wronged by senseless wars and self serving governments. Thank you for a terrific write!
GIUSEPPE

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

11 Years Ago

War take the best from us. Sending young people in their youth is the greatest sin of this governmen.. read more



Reviews

Coyote, one thing your father's lament gave you is a tremendous and powerful gift to tell others of it. You are able to get the message to us of it in a way that should not be forgotten by any who reads of it! We are war mongers, we do fight for the rich to gain more power, we are only pawns in the hands of those who wish to move us about the table of war in the disguised name of peace and it sickens me to the core or my being. I always support our troops, but I believe not in acts of war! I think we must defend, but let it be at a peace table, working as brothers to help one another, and not fighting one another. War has and always will be with us..........and how sad it is!
Please keep speaking of your father, of your experiences and we will keep believing that change must come from those who seek peace in a peaceful way!
I thank your father for his service and for giving us YOU!!! May his memory be ever blessed!!!
A favorite of mine in the name of "PEACE". Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth!

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

11 Years Ago

I hope the meek can win? I hope the greedy folks leave something useful for the survivors. I agree... read more
What a touching story you have shared with us here. Your father was a brave man to fight in the war and Thank you for sharing that with us. He was right. No one has the right to look down on you. Never forget that. I hope he did find peace. Surely he gave you a lot of good life advice. Lydi**

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

11 Years Ago

He did. Thank you for reading and the comment.
This is a very touching poem and a wake up call to embrace truth and not propaganda and injustice if it is commited against other nations or peoples. Your father fought the good fight within and may he find the peace he deserves amidst the chaos of this world. I'm pretty sure he is proud of you as you set an example to others...Sorry for the loss and thank you for penning this one...:)

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

11 Years Ago

Thank you Sami for the kind words and the comment. War leave no winners. Only poor people learning t.. read more
Sami Khalil

11 Years Ago

Wow. So true and well said. You are welcome...:)
thats one CUT AND DRIED write...still work...good to great and bad to worse....human mind works...
its so wide...thanks for sharing !

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

11 Years Ago

Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.
I can't even begin to tell you how affecting this was Coyote, thank you so much for sharing this part of your history with me/us, I can see through your words where your passion and soul comes from.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

11 Years Ago

Thank you Frieda. My father passed in September. I hear his words in dreams. Old world was hard. I .. read more
Frieda P

11 Years Ago

I feel you my friend....always my pleasure John.

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Added on September 18, 2013
Last Updated on September 18, 2013

Author

Coyote Poetry
Coyote Poetry

MI



About
A Poet and writer who love to read and write. My pleasure is reading about the bad and good in a life. Also to honor the Poets/Writers of the past by reading their words. Remember .. more..

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