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 Contemporary poetry by Dan Donlan

MEMORIAL DAY; PROUDLY AMERICAN

By Dan Donlan, www.PoetryPoem.com/dandy1    Unlock all Features - Upgrade to Poetry Prime

On Memorial day
I think of my Grandpa
He had no children of his own
He married my Grandma late in life
He loved Sis and I as his own
Grandpa was a Socialist
And a proud American
In his day his Socialist beliefs were mistaken
Grandpa's idea of Socialism was not political
He believed we were all in a shared world
He had mechanical skill and not well educated
The skills he was born with were in demand
He believed in sharing with those not so talented
He thought we should all share with our neighbors
In many ways he was anti-government but pro America
His friends were if all Religions and languages
of all colors as he taught me to accept humanity
As believing in Communism he was American
I was taught we are all children of God
That if we had abilities others did not
We should help those in need
During the war he worked as a shipbuilder
A skill that was needed to protect America
He had regrets he could not service
His was not a popular vision by some
Many of his neighbors were American born Japanese
Just as loyal to America as he himself
He shared with them his wealth
They were abused as the enemy and came at night
As a boy I gave out and ledgered needed goods
Always the idea when things were better they would pay back
Few could but that did not matter to Grandpa
He was spit at his cars painted, "Commy"
I had many a fistfight boys who insulted Grandpa
In the middle of the night visitors would come
They too were proud Americans
Yet Japanese, German, Russian or just down and out
Grandpa's wages were used to help the poor.
As a child I learned bookkeeping filling ledgers
A dozen eggs for Yamada, oil for his car
Ivan would come to share Vodka with Grandpa
Grandpa was a hard crusty old man he would not explain himself
Irish I too at school was called "Ruskie"
My best friend a Russian boy also wanted to be a Marine
My father hid behind booze and a fake bad heart
Grandpa and I loved football the fighting Irish
But mostly it was the Army Navy game we waited to see
I sat on his lap and was allowed to bet on Navy
I was going to grow up and be a Marine
One of those few and proud men
I was still in High School when I tried first to join
Mom protest without my Father I was an only son
Grandpa convince Mom I could join the National Guard
With her written permission I joined while in High School
This boy kids teased as unAmerican was an Ammo handler
My first job was building Airplanes at Boeing
I started working from the day I graduated from High School
It was a good paying job and Grandpa and I knew my Dream
He convinced Mom I was a man and should join the Marines
A few good men I was not a flunked the physical
Too tall for the Submarines, bad eyes and suffering from irregular heartbeat.
I could be in the Navy but sometimes got seasick
Off we go into the Wild blue yonder
Grandpa was the proudest of the proud watching me get on the bus
He died while I was serving in Korea. I didn't find out until I came home
My letters were censored and the part about Grandpa dying was taken out
When I did find out he was in his grave and this man cried
So each Memorial day I dedicate to thinking of Grandpa
I often say not all the heroes are Veterans but those who wait
The heroes are those who did not make it home, thank you for your service








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