The Discharge of the Home Guard
Jul. 11th, 2002 06:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gurdonarkHis company mobilized in quiet retreats,
the captains systematically discharging
battle-hardened soldiers, and sending them
home without arms or pension.
His cubicle proved to be one more picket,
Broken down in some rear guard action.
His co-workers were sorted into the dead,
the wounded, and those reduced in force.
Wars are lost; armies retreat--
but he had watched generals with golden epaulettes
looting the quartermaster, raiding the rations.
His appetite for combat is gone.
the captains systematically discharging
battle-hardened soldiers, and sending them
home without arms or pension.
His cubicle proved to be one more picket,
Broken down in some rear guard action.
His co-workers were sorted into the dead,
the wounded, and those reduced in force.
Wars are lost; armies retreat--
but he had watched generals with golden epaulettes
looting the quartermaster, raiding the rations.
His appetite for combat is gone.
