JOHNNY

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

Johnny was a young man
who had to wear olive green
Johnny was an innocent fool
who joined a killing machine

Johnny was a faithful servant
who prayed so he could dream
Johnny was an empty pocket
who was bred to be mean

Johnny was a bad shot
who had to keep his rifle clean
Johnny was a thirsty troop
who drank from a rusty canteen

Johnny was the lowest rank
who had to clean filthy latrines
Johnny was always the one under the sun
who wore no U.V. sunscreen

Johnny was a pot-head
who knew he could never be clean
Johnny was the first grunt
who was ambushed by Ho Chi Minh

Johnny was one complete mess
who had his gut torn and no spleen
Johnny was just another casualty of war
who didn’t make it past eighteen

All Rights Reserved - 2008 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.