Vietnam War Memorial Trilogy


Monument Myth

No bells or whistles for this rock, D.C. has a monument,
known simply as ‘The Wall.’ respectively called ‘The Wall.’
Belated shrine to honor those, Inscribed are names of those who died,
in Vietnam gave their all. in ‘Nam they took the call.

All the names of those who died, Names are etched upon ‘The Wall,’
forever inscribed in stone. stand bare in majesty.
Side by side those names stretch on, Stripped of all the pretensions
our nation can’t atone. of what will never be.

Stand far back and gaze upon, For on ‘The Wall’ you only find
black granite shocks the mind. a soldier’s given name.
This giant slash in hallowed ground, You will find no glory there,
our wounds it tries to bind. no fanfare, hype, or fame.

But when you then stand so close by, Death from war a tragedy,
give names more close inspection. it bears no great distinction.
Trapped forever with those inscribed, For those who write it’s otherwise,
resides your own reflection. their words doomed to extinction.

Whatever your thoughts about that war, I hope ‘The Wall’ will outlast time,
or to Vietnam never sent. dispatch the mythical glory -
Once your image is with those names, that, “Dulce et decorum est
you’re now their monument. pro patria mori.”*

Message

Our war’s message to the world, Our message haunts both stark and black,
price borne is never free. Oh, granite, please last forever.
Those lifeless names of thankless souls Is lesson learned or satisfied
who gave much more than me. with better late than never?

Slighted warriors who soldiered on I fear the message rests unheard
for leaders absent vision. by all who are protected.
A nation’s failure at history’s truths, Past and present affairs unfold;
it caused such great division. is history yet neglected?