Lawrence Hall
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The Tiger Cages of Ben Luc
In which there were no tigers, only boys
Locked in barbed-wire cages in the tropical sun
Teenagers in their country’s uniform
Unable even to stretch or stand or move
Punished for some minor infraction or other
Locked in barbed wire cages in the tropical sun
We were forbidden to talk to them, or even look
They waited in silence, they waited, and they thought
Locked in barbed-wire cages in the tropical sun -
And those poor lads are why the Communists won
These kids were not POWs; they were ARVN soldiers under punishment by their officers.