Defeat, Witter Bynner

[ashoakandthorn]

On a train in Texas German prisoners eat
With white American soldiers, seat by seat,
While black American soldiers sit apart,
The white men eating meat, the black men heart.
Now, with that other war a century done,
Not the live North but the dead South has won,
Not yet a riven nation comes awake.
Whom are we fighting this time, for God's sake?
Mark well the token of the separate seat
It is again ourselves whom we defeat.

Comments

[winter156.livejournal.com]

This is such an intense piece of poetry. I really like it.

Poignant

[mirmusing.livejournal.com]

and still, alas, valid today. M

[jesuslovesbono.livejournal.com]

wow.
was this from the WWII era?

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

That's amazing. Thank you for sharing.