Again

In the days of Vietnam
Before the cuisine and immigrants
We vowed we’d learned it
Once and for all
Learned how relentless
Stupidity can be
How good men can go bad
In the flurry of emergencies
And urgencies and the higher mission
Of cause and party.

How did we let it happen again,
Again, against that never-again?
How did we let that resolve become
Anachronism and hand wringing
And oh well it’s not our game?

Where is the rage and the spitfiring?
Lost, wouldn’t you know, in success
In the comfort of having made it anyway.
We are loath to bang the drum
For fear we’ll miss our lunch at noon
Or the shopping trip.

Where are the martyrs and screamers
Blocking the path of arrogance?
Sound asleep in age and ease
Hoping someone young will roar
And bring it all about before
We all go down in dust,
Lessons lost and treasures tossed.