The
loving . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
trusting . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
playful . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
little
puppy,
–
–
skips,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
dances,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
plays . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
i
n
–
–
–
the
magic
.
a
n
d
.
joy,
.
.
o
f
.
.
each
.
a
n
d
.
every
day,
.
.
t
h
a
t
.
.
passes
.
h
e
r
.
way . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
She
skips,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
dances,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
plays . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
She
skips,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
dances,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
plays . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
She
skips,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
dances,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
plays . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
until
.
s
o
m
e
.
lunatic
.
crazed,
–
–
ties
.
h
e
r
.
awkward
footsteps
.
.
d
o
w
n
.
.
in
.
t
h
e
i
r
.
place . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
ignores
.
h
e
r
.
helpless
–
–
yelps,
–
–
pleas,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
cries . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ he
ignores
.
h
e
r
.
helpless
–
–
yelps,
–
–
pleas,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
cries . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
sends
.
h
e
r
.
spinning
–
–
’round,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
’round,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
’round,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
’round,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
’round . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
into
.
t
h
e
.
churning
blades . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
into
.
t
h
e
.
churning
blades . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
f
–
–
the
!slaughterhouse!
–
–
–
.
.
.
Let
.
u
s
.
march
.
o
u
r
.
little
boys . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Let
.
u
s
.
march
.
o
u
r
.
little
boys . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
t
o
–
–
–
the
front . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ haven’t
.
y
o
u
.
heard ?
!There’s a war going on!
–
–
–
.
.
.
March them . . . March
.
into
.
t
h
e
.
smoking,
.
choking
.
haze . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
March them . . . March
.
until
.
t
h
e
.
end
.
o
f
.
their
days . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Let’s
send
.
o
u
r
.
armies,
.
.
o
f
.
.
tender,
.
youthful
.
flesh
.
a
n
d
.
faith . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
against
.
t
h
e
.
hungry,
.
churning
.
blades . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ against
.
t
h
e
.
hungry,
.
churning
.
blades . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
f
–
–
–
!BARBED WIRE!
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
f
–
–
–
!!BOMB BLASTS!!
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
f
–
–
–
!!!MACHINE GUN FIRE!!!
–
–
–
.
.
.
Such
.
a
.
small
.
sacrifice,
.
.
s
o
.
.
the
.
rest
.
c
a
n
.
wine,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
dine,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
opine . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ so
.
t
h
e
.
rest
.
c
a
n
.
wine,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
dine,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
opine . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Such
.
a
.
small
.
sacrifice . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Such
.
a
.
small
.
sacrifice . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ just
.
a
.
f
e
w
.
youthful . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
tender . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
lives . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Let’s
love
.
a
n
d
.
embrace
.
o
u
r
.
trusting,
.
playful
.
puppies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
then
.
s
e
n
d
.
them
.
t
o
.
the
!SLAUGHTERHOUSE!
–
–
–
.
.
.
Let’s
love
.
a
n
d
.
embrace
.
o
u
r
.
trusting,
.
playful
.
puppies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
then
.
s
e
n
d
.
them
.
t
o
.
the
!SLAUGHTERHOUSE!
–
–
–
.
.
.
Let’s
love
.
a
n
d
.
embrace
.
o
u
r
.
trusting,
.
playful
.
puppies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
then
.
s
e
n
d
.
them
.
t
o
.
the
!SLAUGHTERHOUSE!
–
–
–
.
.
.
!!TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE!!
–
–
–
!!!TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE!!!
–
–
–
!!!!TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE!!!!
–
–
–
!!!!!TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE!!!!!
Reflection: This is a reflective-themed poem that I wrote back in April 2002 in reflection of the children and young people I knew and the potential dismal future they might have – not by their choice but as a consequence of the state of the world affairs at the time. This poem seems even more relevant today. So many of our youths have been sent off to war with little meaning or purpose. I hope that in the future we will only engage in wars that we all collectively believe in and that we then all join hands and march off to war together (i.e., not just send our youths to do our fighting for us).