Editor’s note: The following poem appeared in the November, 1985 issue of The Houlton Pioneer Times.
By Frederick E. Anderson
He, and I grew up together in a carefree way.
Living day to day in Small Town, U.S.A.
We were not tame, we raised a little cane;
He, and I together would always share the blame.
We had no fears,
We shocked our peers,
Skipping school, and drinking beer.
On day he came to me, his face was pale,
The Principal told him that he, and I would fail!
We never did contemplate
That he, and I would not graduate!
We will decide our own fate,
So off we went to the Army gate.
To Hell with the Science, English, and Math
He, and I enlisted to escape the draft!
The eve before we went away
We promised each other to pray;
That he, and I could get together again someday,
And relive the memories of Small Town U.S.A.
Politicians start the wars in their diplomatic way.
I don’t understand it to this very day
And what’s become of my friend you say?
He’s listed on the roll call as MIA.
