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Recalling the all night vigils
Memorial sit ins
Student strike
Church services
Peace March through an Upstate
New York city and all the hostility
for all the long hairs
Recalling the Peace Fair
no one came to
The petitions for a Moratorium
for the Vietnam War no one signed
The peace committee work
that accomplished nothing
Recalling those glorious Spring days
All that time to kill with no classes
no Finals just graduation and
a draft notice that was sure to follow
Recalling playing softball
drinking beer and hanging out
with the cleanup hitter who
couldn’t make weekend end games
“National Guard duty.” he said when asked
why he could play. “I hope I don’t get
called up. I hope there are no more
student riots like at Kent State.”
“You wouldn’t shoot me, Doug. “
I teased, “we’re friends.”
He looked at me, then toward
the pitcher toeing the mound
and I knew he would, if someone
in command told him to.
“You’re up.” He said.
Alan Catlin has published numerous chapbooks and full-length books of poetry and prose, the latest of which, from March Street Press, is Alien Nation.