the glass ever

the glass ever

now,

the draft 

is something invading

through a slightly open window

then,

the draft

was something from one country invading another

through a slightly open border

at the time,

the draft

was something that invaded families

through a demand of Uncle Sam

always,

no choice but to serve

no choice but to swerve

from a positioned life

never,

coming home

coming home broken

imprints invading through a slightly open window

sometimes,

remembering sanity

remembering the explosion of war

through a slightly open border

of sometimes being whole

sometimes being fragments of self

never understanding why

through a slightly open-ended argument

at the time

reasons

to serve

reasons to swerve from truth

shut the window

turn away the draft

remember what it's like to be whole

understand

the border, the frame, the pain

of a window

that never should have been

open.

erin-cilberto

6/1/23

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

if you keep yourself out of harm's way, perhaps you won't have to fight in wars, but once you open (that window) you are surely exposing yourself to harm, possibly to death...hide from wars, don't let them see or smell you, you might be in trouble....close the window, so you don't get the draft (PUN)
This sometimes your luck runs out and you must fight....you "swerve" into chaos....pain.
Best, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and so many back in the sixties had no choice...caught in the conflict...thank you for swerving into this poem, Betty,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome J.
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

It’s Nam all over again. Your generation won’t forget. Drafted to fight in a battle not of their making. They had no choice. They went, they died, they came back broken and how were the vets treated? War is futile. Keep all the windows and doors firmly shut. The sacrifice wasn’t worth it. A memorial day reminder J. Tough when you reflect on the sacrifice.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, very tough...thank you for your words, Chris,
j.

[willweb]

Sounds like that thing should be nailed shut...who needs fresh air anyway when you have plenty of hot air everywhere else telling you that things are far too drafty for you to understand.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, yes, yes.
Really like where you took this, will,
j.