The Patriots
Rude despots dazzled by their country's might,
came stalking smaller nations to subdue,
then sacrificed their offspring to the fight.
Fierce warriors, seeking enemies to smite,
saluted flags parading in review,
so vainly dazzled by their country's might.
Despairing mothers moaned posterity's plight,
lamenting that their hearts would break in two,
yet sacrificed their offspring to the fight.
Grave churchmen offered prayers throughout the night
as righteousness and sanctimony grew,
for all were dazzled by their country's might.
Proud scholars stayed discretely out of sight,
declaring what they'd heard could not be true,
yet sacrificed their offspring to the fight.
While leaders looking down from lofty height,
determined in the course they could pursue,
and plainly dazzled by the country's might,
have sacrificed our offspring to their fight.
by Beth Staas
... who is the widow of a WWII Air Corps Cadet and the sister of
a German POW of that same war. She has recently retired from
teaching at Waubonsee Community College, and has posted some of
her compositions and a usage guide on her website. She has published two novels, The Two
Percent Miracle and An Audience of One; and her works
have been published in more than two dozen periodicals, including
Success, Entrepreneur,
Southwest Airlines, Lady's
Circle, Chicago Tribune, and
Barrister. Her work has previously appeared
in this magazine, where she is also a contributing editor.
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