Influenced by the zealous praise
coming from teachers and parents
they left enthused before real sense
replaced the glow of youthful gaze,
pride, and honour with true malaise.
Troops become a sacrifice for
Mars, depleting their thirst for gore.
Instead of music and parades,
a drumbeat of cannon cascades
into trenches of world war.
Bill Cushing earned an MFA from Goddard College. Published online and in print, he has four collections: A Former Life (Kops-Fetherling International Book Award); Music Speaks (San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival winner; New York City Book Award); “. . .this just in. . .”; and Just a Little Cage of Bone.