we feel justified

i wrote this last year on nov. 11th.

They remembered what it was like

To be raised in a free country,

To be free to make their own choices,

To eat what they want,

To live where the liked.

And they wanted to keep it that way.

 

Then they remembered faces,

And places,

People they loved and left behind,

People they swore they’d come back to 

And hold in their arms,

And ask if they’d marry them.

Places they might never see again.

Where they had their first kiss,

Where they first met their wife,

made their first wish,

Where their child took its first step.

 

Then we remembered them as heroes,

As lost family and friends.

Those who came back joined in mourning

with the parents, wives and children

of those who wouldn’t be seen again.

We remembered them as heroes,

As lost family and friends.

 

Now we remember them as long weekends,

Days off work and K-mart sales.

No longer the personal sting of loss,

They’re great sacrifice is taken,

Torn down and dressed up,

Put up for sale and forgotten.

Their blood is still in the sand.

Their wives still miss their husbands.

We wear red poppies and feel justified,

We wear red poppies 

and we feel justified.

Reviews

[Ben Taylor]

They’re great sacrifice is taken,
Torn down and dressed up,
Put up for sale and forgotten."
This poem evokes real emotion. This is a sentiment that is expressed far too infrequently--very well written, I'm glad I read this before the 11th.
We wear red poppies and we feel justified."