Lawrence Hall, HSG
Mhall46184@aol.com

       “My Oath of Enlistment Does Not Have an Expiration Date”

Well, yeah, it does

If it doesn’t then I’m out of uniform
If it doesn’t then I’m absent without leave
                    (54 years – you’d think someone would have noticed)
If it doesn’t then I need to report to base
If it doesn’t then I must obey President Biden

If it doesn’t then I must obey all officers
                    (Is that a shavetail ensign at my door?)
If it doesn’t then the manual of arms…
                    (With a walking-stick? Really?)
If it doesn’t then I gotta get up at 0400
If it doesn’t then my Sperry Topsiders need a shine

I left my oath of enlistment in Viet-Nam
There, with the memories of many dear friends
It will rest in peace without any regard
For someone else’s made-in-China slogan tee