Johnny Puts Down His Gun

When the politicians fail
in their faint diplomacy
and the wealthy want protection
for their interests ‘cross the sea
with appeals to patriotism
they will always come to me
the soldier who’s been dying
in their place eternally

On the battlefields so brutal
where no angels dare to tread
where the failure of God’s love
can be measured by the dead
we must plant the seeds of peace
and tolerance instead
and not face a human future
every mortal soul should dread

Hear me now, the weary warrior,
who has always gone along
to the sound of martial music
and some flag-embracing song
It’s time to stop the sacrifice
and right this terrible wrong
Through the art of good relations
there’s a new way to be strong

I will not be filled with hatred
for the ones they demonize
I will seek to see the question
through my adversaries’ eyes
I will take a stand for brotherhood
and learn to compromise
We can build a home for justice
where truth replaces lies

See me now, the one who’s fallen,
in unnecessary war
waged in jungles and in deserts
and on every foreign shore
I am rising from the quagmire
and the bloodstained killing floor
and I vow to all who’ll listen:
I’m not marching anymore!

Dennis Rahkonen, from Superior, Wisconsin, has been writing progressive commentary with a Heartland perspective for various outlets since the '60s. Read other articles by Dennis.

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  1. Erroll said on April 27th, 2008 at 5:05pm #

    As a Vietnam veteran, I found the imagery of this poem to be not only vivid and powerful but full of truth.

    “Hear me now, the weary warrior,
    who has always gone along
    to the sound of martial music
    and some flag-embracing song
    It’s time to stop the sacrifice”

    As Dennis Rahkonen implies, it is time for the American soldier to finally realize that he, like I was those many years ago, has been conned by his government. There is no nobility in dying and ending up maimed and crippled for a disreputable cause. The hope is that there will be soldiers who will listen to Dennis Rahkonen’s plea to them, when the nameless soldier states:

    “I’m not marching anymore!”

  2. Jerry said on April 28th, 2008 at 8:35pm #

    That is one damned heavy piece of poetry.