Etchings

What was it lured the babies off to war,

the adolescent wonder fools... at best,

who'd yet to learn the *fo'c'sle from the floor

and couldn't tell the study from the test?

They nursed upon the warrior code of Duke,

a hero of the legendary screens,

but never saw him scared enough to puke,

and never heard him grunt behind the scenes.

The military called them to a man

except the golden children in reserve

whose Daddies knew the secrets of the plan

and all the students grading on the curve.

Opposed were led directly to the blame,

the dead were on the news before us all.

Survivors had to live or die with shame

for not becoming etchings on the wall.

~Dean Neighbors~

2009, Fallon, NV

*Note: for you land lubbers.....Forecastle = fo'c·'sle

/ˈfōksəl/

noun

noun: focsle

1. the forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as the crew's living quarters.

   • HISTORICAL

     a raised deck at the front of a ship.