P O E T S ON THE LINE
a continuing anthologyFounded by Andrew Gettler & Linda Lerner
NO. 9 & 10 T H E M I L L E N N I U M I S S U E
Edited by Linda Lerner
MAGGIE JAFFE
Can't Happen Here
The poster announced a Conference on Genocide
at a Southern California university.
Represented were Jews, Armenians, Cambodians,
even Gypsies, but no American Indians.
I phoned the Professor in charge,
who had "thought of including Indians,
but the students decided against it."
He explained: "Indians don't fall
within the dictionary
definition of Gen*o*cide,
namely 'the systematic,
planned extermination of a people."
"You don't think invasion, land theft,
chronic murder of civilians & the slaughter
of 50 million bison with the intention of starving
Indian people, wasn't planned?'
"No," he said, "we just went too far."
For Lewis B. Puller, Jr.
Chesty pulled more than his weight.
The Marine Corps had to love him,
couldn't pin enough medals
on his chest for fighting 5
wars & for having a son.
Dan taught me to stand for ladies
& to shake a man's hand firmly.But life rushes right by a man.
In a flash--Virginia childhood, to San Diego,
to the triple--canopied jungle--steps on a
booby--trapped howitzer round,
vaporized legs, pink mist surround him.
Pray, Lieutenant, for God's sake, pray.
Screams come from another country.
years later, Pain still walks point for him.Back in the World
a wife & kids, booze & pain-killers.
Demands clemency for vets who deserted,
then loses a bid for Congress.
A '91 photo shows clench-jawed
Puller in front of the Wall:
his wheelchair mirrored
in the smooth granite surface.May 11, 1994: Lewis B. Puller, Jr.
died of a self-inflicted wound
19 years after the war's end,
the average age of age grunt in Vietnam.
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