When the Simple Man

I just want to be a lover
to just have her
to just breathe her saccharine smirk
to know who she is

I don’t know what Tigerland is
or rather what it's for.
Why we're sent by the thousands
to tread through those jungles,
to march through the rice patties,
and shoot the yellow man.

I just want to be a butcher
to just cut meat
to love it
to know what it is

I don’t know who the gooks are
or rather why they’re mad.
Why the lieutenant says it’s alright
to kill the gook children, their gook mothers,
to let their gook blood soak my boots
and forget about them, turn them into numbers.

I just want to be a lover.
To love her,
The way momma taught me.
To love any girl.
I know what it is.