Don’t enlist

This is rebellion

In any case

you won’t gain a thing

All of the promises

are reserved for whites

and all of the concessions

are promised to their children

and anyhow no right

is worth your mother’s tears,

or his

What’s the use

of your hands adjusting to the feel of metal

and your eyes seeing friends

through the gun sight

and why should you hear

commanders barking

you’re better off with

professions of love

from a girl

Go to the army shrink

tell him

about your dreams-

he’ll think that you’re mad

Go to the doctor

ask him

why they make sure that you are healthy

just before sending

you to die

Take these three years

give them to your heart:

a good

firing zone

it’s the place

that blurs the boundaries

Or at least

give them to your mind

take three years to think

study

acquire knowledge

for even if you do wish to fight and kill

surely you must first discover

who exactly

your enemy is.