I Remember Poem by Alfonso Siverls

Memorial Day is a day of bitter memories
memories of a draft system that targeted the poor
and those with no means for deferment

this day takes me back to my past
and times of innocents
basketball, softball and talking about
not with girls

of high school and house parties with Motown
graduating in 1965
and with a war in a place
I could not locate on the map

of draft cards
and pre-induction physical exams at 18 years old
and greetings from uncle Sam

of my best of friends
joining the army
on the buddy system
that only existed in the lies of recruiters

of Moses
the high school track star in the 100 yard dash
joined the marines after high school
only to go to war
and was unable to outrun a bullet

of Parker
the quiet gentle teddy bear of a kid
that I never remembered being in a fight
drafted into the army
sent to war
and placed in a fight
that took his life

of so many friends from the neighborhood
drafted, no pearl harbor or 9/11 call to arms
just sent to war at 19 years old
with no idea of why they were in this fight
not heroes but victims

of the lucky ones that were sent to war
survived and returned mentally wounded
and ended up spending a lifetime healing

I remember the faces and forgotten names
from a time that seem so long ago
clueless warriors
that at one time were just innocent young men
not soldiers
but boys with dreams and hope

I remember
all the innocents
lost