Monday, May 26, 2008

Poetry Monday

Today's poem was going to be Flander's Field, but I posted it two years ago so was trying to come up with a different Memorial Day poem. I just visited Truth v. the Machine, read this poem there, and in doing so found this week's Monday poem. You can read Flander's Field here.

It is the Soldier
by Charles M. Province

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

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