This absolutely gave me goosebumps. +fav

Nicely put. I'm glad Elle steered me toward this, and I had an opportunity to read it. Cheers!

Yeah, this is really good, powerful. A friend of mine was on a river boat, but he never talked about it much. I think he'd like this.

Beautiful, polished writing. Incredibly effective. (I could hear my dad saying something like this - he was in Burma...)

this is awesome, good work.

lovely

very enjoyable read. I always find it hard to comment to something that touches deeply on various levels. Great work!

This is such a wonderful portrayal of any time of war in general, and I think you captured the feeling of it in these few short lines. Wonderful.

...ahh, bill, i'm known for my long posts in the comment section, i'll keep true to form nahhaha, nahh, this is everything the other peeps said and + my feelings too, we all have that claim of owning OUR feelings and in this it's kept real, for sure not romantic, just real...and kids...heavy, then, heavy now w/ the boys in the sand...congrats on el numeroa uno...deserved...peace, chaz

We as a nation are both blessed and cursed in that we have citizens still willing to voluntarily bear arms in defending the U.S. against its enemies, yet live in a world where they do so with too much regularity. Your writing has captured and reflected the human element quite vividly with a message that is timeless.

Nature abhors many things, and maybe even a hero....how can it be the survival of the fittest when the fittest keeps putting himself in situations where he is most likely to get creamed? It's the boys who did war's dirty work, and too many boys died.

part of being a boy by nature is this attitude where we have to do crazy things as children and be aggressive growing up. i like this poem because it depicts reality and doesn't float onto the side of public or social expectation. every now and then it's nice to hear a raw truth. well written and forward...i like it.

I am glad to see this as poem of the day, as others concur...so telling- a true soldier's poem. It should go to book print.

There are tears in my eyes as I ponder what you've said here. While I congratulate you on being the POTD, I also thank you for your perspective and observation.

I am stunned...this is one of the best "war poems" I've ever read, honestly, because it is just so raw and real. I love the pattern of the first lines of each stanza. You manage to be both natural and poetic at the same time, which is a feat. I am glad the whole site was treated to this as potd.

This one is so damn simply brilliant.

Fantastic piece in its simple honesty and form. I assume the title hints to the book by Harold G. Moore?

I hope you had a great Veteran's Day. Awesome poem; thanks for posting it for all of us to share and to be moved by your reality.

Absolutely beautiful. This piece accurately depicts that whole "blind leading the blind" "Lets get rebellious!" Peter Pan Complex that every adolescent holds strong to. Until, inevitably, something tragic (yet necessary) has happened to alter this somehow. Alright, I'm ranting. Heh. Astounding! :) -Liz

This one almost gave me whiplash when I got to the last stanza. I was not expecting this to turn out to be, apparently, a flashback to Vietnam. As an Army veteran of that era, but did not go over there, I can empathize with you Mahlon. Not only did you catch hell over there but also when you got back and all the hippies calling you "baby killers". But, as you said, you were boys, really. This one is going in my favorites!!! EXCELLENT!!

I'm so glad I discovered this in time for memorial day. Thank you for sharing your reflective conclusion so honestly. Touches the deepest places of the heart.

wow, what strong writing. stupendous...

That's why boys wear t-shirts.

I recall well those years, which were supposed to be the best of our lives and I suppose they were if only for the fact we were young, boys as you say.

this is what i was looking for this morning. great great great write. adding to my favorites, as well.

i don't have an option to favorite this one, but if i could, i would. bravo.

This is a beutifully written, personal account bringing the past and thosw who lived it truly to life -- it goes in deep and stays there to make you think...and feel.

Loved this!

I was a boy once and this brilliant piece reminds me that if there is one thing war does, it's rob boys of their innocence. I salute you and your pen in rememberence and eternal memorium. What I like most about this poem is the overall nature of the context in which it's written. True unabashed naiveté.

Truly, a heartwarming piece. Thank you.

Thank you.

Such powerful sentiments, beautifully written.

This continues to be one of my all time favorites! I love that you continue to receive recognition for it!

After so many times seeing this title on the "10 Random Favorites" list, I finally got around to reading it. I am glad I did. It captures so much of what I have been thinking of recently, as my son approaches the age of 18. He is a boy. Really.

A beautiful creation. Thinking back on the innocence and youth that wasn't realized then. I like the imagery and word choices. I did notice the capitalization of each line took a bit away from the flow of the read, especially since this is so well punctuated, the capitals have me thinking a new thought and it threw me off. (Only my humble opinion) This is going on my favorites list. :)

Ahhh, yes, yes you were, as you should have been. Thank you for this, honest, refreshing write.

So moving and so powerful. Congrats on POTD!

Still a wonderful read.

I only just found this. Beautiful.

Can't believe I rated this but didn't comment. I'm glad to read it once again. A powerful piece - a reminder of how young they/you are in combat - how innocence and exuberance are directed. Gripping, haunting, somehow. Thank you.