POEM

Arlington National Cemetery


"HAVE A NICE DAY"
by Brian McLaughlin

They told me to have a nice day

I barked at them NO!!!

my mood it was rotten

I just wanted to go

leave them behind me

be alone

by myself

where no-one would see me

bother or peeve me

find my own little corner

away from these bosses

just get away

and suffer the losses

our very world

going to hell in a hand-basket

and these smiling fakes

don't see the returning caskets

our sons

and our daughters

returning from war

their broken dead bodies

that's how politicians keep score

have a nice day

uh-uh, not for them

and as for their families

you've brought them mayhem

stolen their children

for an unneeded war

as if they were nothing but disposables

found in a store

and then there's the others

those coming home maimed

that we should care for

for life

why isn't the government ashamed

always passin' the buck

and tryin' to lay blame

when the truth is

it's all of 'em

it's the political game

so have a nice day

it's thought of too free

at least not today

oh no

not for me