Four Old Men (To my draft board)
Four old men, who know not the meaning of guilt;
Judge a man with a conscience.
How can these deathmakers, these society made Gods;
Who hold young men's lives for decision,
Understand a man who is scared he might kill.
They are Sunday Christians,
Who interpret the Bible as thou shall not kill Americans.
If I won't kill, why won't I help kill?, they ask.
Can't they see that giving a man a gun,
Is the same as doing the killing?
Can't they see that healing a man to continue killing,
Is the same as pulling the trigger?
Because a man's absorbed political idealogy,
Is different from my own,
Is that reason to kill him?
You say yes.
Then sould I kill that loudmouth conservitive at the corner bar?
You say No.
WELL, MAKE UP YOUR MIND, DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe in a societ of all men,
A society of everyone on this seething breathing planet,
A society where race, color, creed and nationality,
Are undefinied.
PVB 1965
Judge a man with a conscience.
How can these deathmakers, these society made Gods;
Who hold young men's lives for decision,
Understand a man who is scared he might kill.
They are Sunday Christians,
Who interpret the Bible as thou shall not kill Americans.
If I won't kill, why won't I help kill?, they ask.
Can't they see that giving a man a gun,
Is the same as doing the killing?
Can't they see that healing a man to continue killing,
Is the same as pulling the trigger?
Because a man's absorbed political idealogy,
Is different from my own,
Is that reason to kill him?
You say yes.
Then sould I kill that loudmouth conservitive at the corner bar?
You say No.
WELL, MAKE UP YOUR MIND, DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe in a societ of all men,
A society of everyone on this seething breathing planet,
A society where race, color, creed and nationality,
Are undefinied.
PVB 1965
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