Generations

In these days of strife and sorrow,

A veteran broods over tomorrow

As he remembers battles past

And regrets his were not the last,

For now his kids have gone away

Caught up in this current fray,

And his heart is filled with dread

That they'll be among the dead

Who animate his nightly dreams,

With recreations of fearsome scenes

He had prayed would dim and fade;

Instead, he’s getting a new upgrade.

So the innocent continue to die

As their leaders connive and lie

In their lust for power and wealth,

Totally immersed, as usual, in self.

People can be such trusting sheep,

Expecting elected shepherds to keep

The flock safe from lupine harm,

Blithely refusing to heed the alarms.

And they’re always so surprised

When, with sadly opened eyes,

They discover they’ve been ill-used;

There they are: betrayed and abused.

So, as generations come and go,

Exploitation continues to flow

'Round about our naïve pates;

‘Manipulated’ seems to be our fate.

© 2/8/2005 Thurman P. Woodfork