Born Soldier

     Now I'll move on from poems about my son to the brother I love like a son, Roddy.     

     Born Soldier     (To Roddy, born handicapped)

Born soldier,

Your lonely, lifetime fight

To be no less a man

Has made you more,

And strong.

My brother,

My friends, your enemies, think

You do not understand

That they can’t bear to let you be—

A man.

Roddy,

I cannot join you in the battle,

Nor end the war,

But, helpless, hear

The guns.

1978