Long Black Wall - Michael Jerling
A Green Beret came to talk to us
Gave a slide show in the gym
Told about the Communists and the Punji sticks
I thought I'd like to be like him
A Long Black Wall, and nothing is undone
A Long Black Wall, sleeping in the sun
Chicago summer 1968
some high school kids out on a lark
Waved to the cameras on the evening news
and got teargassed in Lincoln Park
A Long Black Wall, and nothing is the same
A Long Black Wall, shining in the rain
Everyone in college was against the war
We had long hair and Nixon stunk
Draft number high, draft number low
Stayed out all night and got real drunk
The Vets came back on the GI Bill
In their field jackets and jeans
Drank black coffee and smoked cigarettes
And never spoke of what they'd seen
A Long Black Wall, and nothing left to say
A Long Black Wall, so many mi les away
The man on TV said ten years had gone
Today a monument was raised
And when they spoke each name one at a time
The roll of dead took four whole days
A Long Black Wall, and nothing is the same
A Long Black Wall, over fifty thousand names
A Long Black Wall, and nothing is undone
A Long Black Wall, sleeping in the sun...
© 1982 by Michael Jerling