It pained the man...
      I'd guess
      to think of forgotten deaths.

I stood looking at graves
      flowers and flags
      and rows of young dead.

It's only right
      that those who live
      remember death of war.

Then I thought
      of those peace-makers
      who fought in other ways.

Where are their graves
      and the flowers and flags
      and statues?

Is it not as patriotic
      to prevent these graves
      as to fill them?

We must wonder whether
      we will ever honor
      peacemakers
      in a world
      ruled by Generals.

I had been there before...
      hardly a month ago
      to say good-bye
      to a good looking Marine.

As we shook hands
      he told me he was going
      to Vietnam.

Now I was back again...
      same house
      and I said to the dad
      "I heard about you son."

He called the mother...
      we talked
      numbed and dazed
      about their son
      dead at 19.

I imagine Memorial Day
      will always be more to them
      than a 3 day holiday
      and the Indianapolis 500.

And you can multiply
      the numbness of that house
      by the number of military graves
      across the land.