I don't want to write Of politics, and policy
I don't want to take their service
and drape it in a flag.
I don't want to talk of sacrifice
They gave all they had.
I don't want to talk of Bravery,
Heroic deeds of how they Died for me.
(instead)
I want to talk of family,
Father's and Sons,
Brothers, Husband's and Friends.
The young men who didn't Come back again!
The ones who served and returned
but were never quite the same.
I don't want to make statements
Or lay blame,
I just want to walk this wall
and remember their names.
And hope someday,
walls like this
won't need to be built again.
Sep 13, 2025
Sep 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM UTC
I don't want to write Of politics, and policy
I don't want to take their service
and drape it in a flag.
I don't want to talk of sacrifice
They gave all they had.
I don't want to talk of Bravery,
Heroic deeds of how they Died for me.
(instead)
I want to talk of family,
Father's and Sons,
Brothers, Husband's and Friends.
The young men who didn't Come back again!
The ones who served and returned
but were never quite the same.
I don't want to make statements
Or lay blame,
I just want to walk this wall
and remember their names.
And hope someday,
walls like this
won't need to be built again.
I wrote this poem for a video I made of a visit to
The North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Which is only a couple miles from my home near
Thomasville, Nc
The video is up on my you tube channel
https://youtu.be/fmMVmGHiC9Q?feature=shared
or
www.youtube.com/@tsummerspoetry
Request permission to use this poem