History


Someday, when you are retired,
and reported as going out on a
fishing trip for marlin
with an odd collection of
former aides, fraternity brothers
and a small security cadre

I will still remember you

Or when you are mentioned as giving some
post presidential address and getting an
honorary degree at this or that
obscure college in Ohio,
then , just then, when you are most fallen
years from now,
from the national news

I will still remember you

When you are laughing at some joke,
Sitting on the porch, down at the ranch
And wondering about investments, or
Watching your daughters get married off
To some ex-marine ,and a stockbroker
Or having your memoirs ghost written

I will still remember you

And when you look around for the last time
See your family gathered around you,
and try to say something, and die, finally
and get in the news one last time
on page three

I will still remember you

For being the least best version of what we needed
When we were hit in the face, twice

For coming up with the clumsiest possible
reaction to what happened

For attacking Iraq
For no real reason

For ignoring all the signs,
That indicated otherwise

For doing what you thought was right
As if your thoughts were ever exalted, in any way

for every single soldier,
on both sides, killed, wounded,
or even exposed to war
and of course the many non-soldiers,
all of us, wounded, diminished,

I will still remember you

Yes, I know that you are the helpless
figurehead of national ignorance

Still, you may be gone someday
Some fine, fine day…

But never, now,
Will you
And the lesson of you
Be forgotten.

You’re history.