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LITERARY NOOK
Vote Against Violence, Vote for our Veterans
“Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints”
—opening line from “On the Late Massacre in Piedmont” of John Milton (1608-1674)
On the Recent Massacre in Las Vegas
‘AVENGE’ John Milton asked the Lord to avenge
“thy slaughtered saints” and their “bones”
we know we can’t bring back loved ones with revenge
we understand the futility of sticks and stones
‘FORGET NOT’ these innocents assembled for fun
who fell victim to a madman shooting from above
with lots of ammunition for his many machine guns
spraying death on those gathered for musical love
‘GATHERED’ with thousands for an evening of song
in Las Vegas, a popular American tourist destination
who would possibly imagine anything could go wrong
let alone conceive or think of massacre and assassination
‘PRAY’ our lawmakers don’t treat this horror as a trifle
and soon pass laws that ban the sales of any assault rifle.
Our Valiant Veterans
They have been with us since wars first started
coming back to their home and family
many fellow soldiers have departed
veterans hoping to live their lives peacefully.
They have fought in the air, on land and sea
built roads, runways, bridges, hospitals too
fighting for freedom and democracy
proudly serving the red, white, and blue.
They have lost fathers, brothers, sons, in war
continuing now in their civilian lives
carrying war wounds, dismembered, and more
happy to be alive with their children and wives.
Each and every day there is nothing better than
respecting and remembering our valiant veterans
