We might have lived forever
And never died at all.
But we've been dead for decades
And you'll find us on The Wall.

We were children of the fifties
Who were forced to quickly age.
Few of us had even voted
When that awful war was waged.

We were raised by Disney
And by Captain Kangaroo
We weren't meant to end our lives
Being led and fooled by you.

Just why was it you betrayed us?
Why was it that we fought?
What was so important
That you left our bones to rot?

You played your party politics
And closely checked the polls
Then bought your place in history
With our hearts, our youth, our souls.

Was it so important
This war you seemed to crave?
That you sent our youth to die in vain
so young, so fresh, so brave.

We died to feed Man's pride and lust
For this we had to fall.
Truth's an easy thing to see from
Our perspective on The Wall.

There is no country anywhere
Worth all this death and waste.
When will man learn to let war go?
When will he lose the taste?

Mankind must learn this simple truth
That war will cure no ills.
War deludes us, war demeans us,
And worst of all, it kills.

Is Mankind's bright potential
To terminate in war?
I think we deserve an answer.
Is this what we all died for?

Or is their hope that Man will change,
And lose the urge to fight.
Can Mankind live in brotherhood?
Could Earth's future be so bright?

Man can live in peace and harmony.
No one has to bear war's pain.
If this dream becomes our legacy
Our death's were not in vain.

~ A. Sailor Retired Navy Vietnam Vet living in Northern California.

Be sure to stop by A. Sailors wonderful web sites:

TONKIN GULF YACHT CLUB - dedicated to the memories of the 44 crewmen of the USS Oriskany (CVA 34) who lost their lives while fighting to save  their ship and their shipmates during a tragic fire while underway in the Gulf of Tonkin on October 26, 1966. http://www.geocities.com/~wdn/

A. SAILOR'S POETRY PAGE - Sure to put a smile on your face as you wander and read what A.Sailor has to share from his heart to yours. http://www.geocities.com/~wdn/asailor.html