Saturday, January 31, 2009

My Son Registers for Selective Service


There should be a form for mothers, too
So I can explain
I didn't bring him into this world
To go away and kill other mothers' sons
And daughters
And fathers
And sisters
And brothers
And though my claim on him
Shrinks each day
He is not yours
He was not made for this
The new life that danced in my womb
Is the same one filling out your form
And you can't have him

4 comments:

  1. There's information about Selective Service registration and alternatives at:

    http://www.resisters.info

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  2. Thank you. My father was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, and my son says that he would do the same should it ever come to that. I will pass on this information and link to it on my blog.

    I've heard your travel interviews on NPR. Thanks for this information!

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  3. Whoa, that's pretty cool! But that's not what I wanted to say. What I really wanted to say is that I really admire your son--what a fine young man he's turned out to be. Not surprising, I suppose, given the nature of apples and trees.

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  4. Thanks Tina, and thanks Mom. This poem really means a lot to me.

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