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Not My Sons

Not My Sons

This land we love and our way of life they’re hell bent to destroy,
so blood spills in the desert sand, but it won’t spill from my boys.
War on terror must be fought until the threat is done,
flush evil out of mosques and caves, but do it without my sons.

Send soldiers into combat, deep behind the enemy lines,
please keep us safe, but don’t even think, of sending one of mine.
I grieve for all the families, their sons and daughters lost,
I support the effort and the troops, but I will not pay that cost.

I’ll move up north to Canada, perhaps Saskatchewan,
I’d nuke the fucking Middle East, before I’d send my sons.

Tolerance and compassion their philosophy forbids,
our children’s, children’s, children’s war, will be fought without my kids.
I wish we could, but withdrawing troops is suicidal advice,
we should stay the course, but selfishly, I refuse to pay my price.

I’ll load my family on a raft, drift off to new horizons,
I’d nuke the fucking Middle East, before I’d send my sons.

You say the war’s a failure, a conflict that can’t be won,
but terror hasn’t hit our soil since the attacks of nine-one-one.
Did the bad men just stop trying to strike us with their might?
Of course they haven’t, so I surmise, we must be doing something right.

Doomsday yearning clerics preach their young intolerance,
only Satan rejoices in the misery caused by archaic ignorance.
Islamic radicals spew their hate, claim the Koran they represent.
No God, Yahweh or even Allah, consecrates the slaughter of the innocent.

I’ll head down south to Mexico, where the Rio Grande runs,
I’d nuke the entire fucking Middle East before I’d send my sons.

America and our way of life they’re vowing to destroy,
so blood spills in Fallujah, instead of Illinois.
Terrorism must be fought until the threat is done,
I’d give anything for this war to end, 
just not my sons, not my sons.

— tbeaudet, Apr 07, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Boston, USA

Favorite Poets: Patti Smith, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen, Jim Carroll, Bob Dylan, Tom Waites

More from this author

Critiques

themoonman

themoonman

18 years 2 months ago

Tbeaudet...

lot of passion in this write of yours..my own son has been twice, and luckily won't have to go back..Can't say I agree with everything said here but it was said well. enjoyed the read and thank you for letting us read it. Richard
tbeaudet

tbeaudet

18 years 2 months ago

I thank you

and your son for both your sacrifices, keeping our country safe. I've already lost a son, (not in war) but I refuse to lose another. Thanks for your comments, but more importantly, thanks again for your sacrifices. Tom
Rett

Rett

18 years ago

Not my sons

Sitting here trying hard not to cry. THIS is what I call brilliant. It echoes the sentiments of most of us. I would not want to send my sons but if they went I would stand and be proud. Do I also notice and undertone of dirision for those who spout support for the troops w/o actually doing so? I do not agree with everything in the poem but it was really well conceived and hits on many levels. Well done sir! Rett
S

sweetness

17 years 11 months ago

Heavy write..

I agree with a lot said, maybe its right maybe its wrong, but I too feel that way about my son...It is a subject that chokes me up, and this piece too, has brought tears to my face... Well done indeed! Sweetness...
D

DarkinAZ

17 years 11 months ago

Great write,

However, who would I be to keep what God has blessed me with. My son is 4 but when he becomes of age I'd send him off to war, like the man who offered God his son as a sacrifice, with his faith mercy did come, as He spared the boy, and like Gods own son, humiliated and hung, I too would send my son with faith that he would return home, either here or above, as I kiss him farewell with a lifetime of my love. It's easy to reap what others sow, but if you give nothing up, true rewards you will never Know. My son is American, and for America he would fight. Mark
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

17 years 11 months ago

tbeaudet

Interesting piece, especially considering my own, "inalienable rights." They're similar in many ways. We are both basically saying, "Do not take my sons to fight this war." The only difference I see is that you seem to be saying that it is acceptable for other sons and daughters to fight this war, as long as they are not your children. Am I incorrect? I ask respectfully, with no intention to ignite a political debate. I also greatly appreciate your comment on my piece and the respect you displayed by asking that any disagreements be carried out in private messages. Thank you for that. This is a very strong and moving piece. Nice writing. Best, Ronda
tbeaudet

tbeaudet

17 years 11 months ago

Clearly, I have an inner struggle going on here

as I support the war on terror, however I thank God that it's a volunteer army and not a draft as it was generations before us. If my sons decided that a soldier they were meant to be, then so be it. They would take my love and prayers with them to battle. It's true what Mark says "It's easy to reap what others sow", but I selfishly accept the gift of service that other's sons and daughters offer for the freedoms that we all enjoy. If it were not for these brave volunteers, we would have no choice, no freedom.
Janice Pearce

Janice Pearce

17 years 11 months ago

Not My Sons

Whether we agree or disagree with the war, I thank every veteran who has risked his/her life. I loved your passionate thoughts here. Nicely written.
D

dkelly

17 years 11 months ago

Your work

This is a very, very powerful statement to our political leaders. If there was no war to begin with, so many would not be losing their young men. 9/11 was a time in the history of the world in which, the balance of the collective consciousness, shifted and I believe, became more clouded by fear. Those of us who are His children, must carry the "light" as an example to our children, and their children after them. Beautifully penned and rhythmic. I enjoyed this piece very well and was deeply moved as I read. Keep on writing! Cheers, Deborah :o))
S

Synchro

17 years 11 months ago

your poem and your philsophy is fine..............but

Your premise is so deeply in error! Our sons are not fighting for our freedom. They are fighting for oil and for money and for power. No matter how pure the intent to defend our "freedom"....the premise is WRONG. The sooner the rest of us recognize this, the more hope there is for the future. Without that recognition....there is NONE! Yours in peace, (Cynthia McKinney for president) Synchro
Rett

Rett

17 years 11 months ago

Fighting for oil

Hmm, not being an educated man it seems odd to me that the oil we are fighting for isn't getting here, the money we are fighting for isn't getting here and it really strikes me as odd that we would be fighting for oil in the first place since the U.S.A has oil in Alaska, off the coast of California ,North Dakota, Texas and the Gulf Coast, plus Oklahoma. As a matter of fact, we have more oil here and off shore than Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran and the United Arab Immerates combined if anyone would do a little research. Why aren't we using it instead of wrecking the economy with fuels that cost more, pollute more and is causing food crop cutbacks? Why aren't we using it and developing alternative fuels like Hydrogen technology w/o wrecking the economy? Could it be we can't because wackos have gotten into office that listen to the far fringe enviro-nuts that would rather everyone starve than use a postage stamp size area on a football field. That is the comparative size of the area they would be using in Alaska which, btw is in an area where there is not much more than molehills. Virtually no wildlife. Fighting for oil and money. LOL. Rett: They say that money talks. Sadly, my wallet has laryngitis!
tbeaudet

tbeaudet

17 years 11 months ago

Ditto

simply Ditto. Thanks Rett for getting it... This war has NOTHING to do with OIL, (despite what Michael Moore says)
D

DarkinAZ

17 years 11 months ago

blah blah oil....

blah blah Bush...blah blah blah. Damn I am tired of that worn out rhetoric, I can not wait 'til Mccain and how it is spun to imply we are fighting for Budweiser. and God forbid if we win the alternative fuel race, cause I am sure us americans will just hoard it all and kill those opposed to our battery monopoly. God, today just....I have had it. Be back later, friendly again. -DarkinAZ-
S

Synchro

17 years 11 months ago

Rett, it is because of big

Rett, it is because of big bucks for Halliburton, Kellogg Brown and Root, and other business cronies of our beloved pres. He'll keep the cash flowing to them as long as he can.....and he has his hands on billions. Yours in peace, (Cynthia McKinney for president) Synchro
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

17 years 11 months ago

Oh no

I was gonna stay out of this whole debate, but.... Wayne Allyn Root is most certainly not one of Bush's cronies. The Bob Barr/Wayne Allyn Root team is one of the few hopes this country has in my very humble opinion. That's all I have to say. ~Jess K. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~ "Everyone needs to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer!" ~ "Your inferiority complex is better than mine!"
S

Synchro

17 years 11 months ago

I was referring to KBR

Kellogg Brown and Root....a Haliburton subsidiary. Yours in peace, (Cynthia McKinney for president) Synchro
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

17 years 11 months ago

Duh

*slaps forehead* I deeply apologize. Forgot about those bastards. I thought you were talking about the Libertarian vice presidential candidate.... ~Jess K. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~ "Everyone needs to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer!" ~ "Your inferiority complex is better than mine!"
Rett

Rett

17 years 11 months ago

Synchro, sorry, I don't understand/

Sorry Synchro, not being an educated man I still don't understand. Let me see if I have it right. Wal Mart makes money so that is bad. Boeing makes money and that is bad. Halliburton makes money and that is bad. Brown and Root makes money and that is bad. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler lose money and that is good? The newspapers and television make money and that is bad. Japan and the Middle east make money and that is good. France, England or any other country making money is good. Intereting concept. All my life I've tried to make money and didn't know it was bad. I KNEW I should have gotten an education. If I had I would probably know that Clinton making money from the chinese and wal mart was good. That Al Gore making money on an unsupported premise was good. That the Kennedy's making money on illegal booze was good. That the Cary family making their money off east indies goods and opium was good and the Rockefellers making it on supplying arms to the Nazis was good. My deepest apologies sir. I didn't know. I wonder that anyone would do something so crass as to be profitable. Rett: They say that money talks. Sadly, my wallet has laryngitis!
Rett

Rett

17 years 11 months ago

Tom

I apologize to you. I am being disrepectful by having this discussion here. My apologies. I will shut up. Rett: They say that money talks. Sadly, my wallet has laryngitis!
Rett

Rett

17 years 11 months ago

Synchro

I also apologize to you. that last bit was rather sarcastic and that was not called for. I do apologize for the sarcasm.Cary was supposed to be Kerry. *sigh* sorry again. Rett: They say that money talks. Sadly, my wallet has laryngitis!
S

Synchro

17 years 11 months ago

apology accepted

And there is nothing wrong with making money. But when the profits are obscene and unfair and taxpayers are unnecessarily hurt, then yes, it is bad. Flagitious, in my opinion! Yours in peace, (Cynthia McKinney for president) Synchro
C

Catalina

17 years 11 months ago

A Lot Of Feelings About This Piece

Well I don't really know where to begin, I as the mother of a son and friend of a few people both in the war and lost to the war your sentiment of selfishness and not wanting to sacrifice their lives is felt deeply and understood. As a muslim I disagree with the idea of nucing my holy land yet I know that war and misunderstanding can fuel all kinds of emotions, so I don't judge you. I also don't agree that because there have been no more attacks since 9/11 in the US there have been numerous in other countries so that theory is a tad bit flawed also in my opinion...however...despite my views on the matter, poetically speaking the piece was filled with emotions and constructed quite nicely.