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We Watched Them Die

By Durango Dave

"It's got to stop," the President said,

Who had to get himself reelect-ed.

The North Vietnamese were communist-led;

He couldn't be seen as soft on the Red.

The Industrial Complex must be fed...

and we watched them die on TV.

"It's got to stop," the Young Soldier said

In a nameless battle that was part of Tet.

Amidst a pall of death and blood and lead,

he held what remained of his best friend's head.

Reporters were there, earning their daily bread

and we watched them die on TV.

"It's got to stop," the Protesters said.

"Far, far too many are already dead."

A generation tired of being bled.

They sang and marched and much to my dread,

the Guard opened fire, and the students fled,

and we watched them die on TV.

"It's got to stop," the Politicians said.

"We need to reduce the de-fi-cit,

Cut Veterans' Benefits; goodbye hospital bed!"

They didn't go, they stayed home instead,

and somehow don't feel that they owe a debt

to those we watched die on TV.

"America is like a melting pot. The people at the bottom

get burned, and the scum floats to the top." - Charlie King

"David C. Neil, Durango, Colorado. Born in 1961, I talked to recruiters from the Air Force and Navy (wanted to fly) prior to graduation from high school in 1979, and was told that I was unable to serve due to my asthma. I'm finding there are other ways to serve..."