they're dead now
my uncles
who flew combat missions in korea
and survived what it was to be in the army
when in the army was the thing honorable men
were in
and now
now
whenever i see a man in uniform
a woman in uniform
i want to buy their groceries
want to pay for their coffee
want to treat them to whatever they're
standing in line with me trying to buy
'cause they, like it or not,
are willing to kill for me
die for me
go to war for me
when all i want is peace.
and still, they, these precious humans
who share the same air
in the same line in safeway
risk to keep our country free
for me to pursue peace
while they defend
what they perceive
as free.
