Peter Meinke, 'Ode to Good Men Fallen Before Hero Come'

[duathir.livejournal.com]

Cross-post from war_poetry:

Ode to Good Men Fallen Before Hero Come

In all story before hero come
good men from all over set forth
to met giant ogre dragon troll
and they are all killed every one
decapitated roasted cut in two
their maiden are carted away and gobbled like cupcake
until hero sail across white water
and run giant ogre dragon troll quite through

Land of course explode into rejoicing
and king's daughter kisses horny knight
but who's to kiss horny head of slaughtered
whose bony smile are for no one in particular
somewhere left out of story somebody's daughter
remain behind general celebration
combing her hair without looking into mirror
rethinking life without Harry who liked his beer

I sing for them son friend brother
all women-born men like one we know
ourselves no hero they no Tristan
no St. George Gawain Galahad Sgt. York
they march again and again to be quartered and diced
and what hell for them never attempt to riddle
I'm talking about Harry Smith caught in middle
who fought pretty bravely for nothing and screamed twice

by Peter Meinke