After Horace (Odes iii 2.13)
It’s sweet and right to die for the homeland
Because the President has taken his stand.
Death pursues even soldiers who cut and run
While serving in a war that can’t be won.
Death will not spare the fronts, sides, or backs
Of troops who’ll come home in body sacks.
Generals, send all our troops you can
To fight and die in Afghanistan.
George Held has collected many of his New Verse News poems in The News Today.
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