NOW AND THEN
[Impressions from a Veterans' Reunion]

They touched,
they laughed and cried together then,
as boys who must be men.

From here and there,
now far beyond their ken,
Just boys who must be men.

So young, so tough
proved time and time again,
not boys, but truly men.

They shared
They fought as brothers, more than friends,
our boys who must be men.

All one, one all,
with courage each of ten,
the boys who must be men.

They touched and laughed,
and now became as then,
for boys who must be men.

©Copyright 1993 by Lucille J. Biscaglio

Originally published in "Red Clay", The Khe Sanh Veterans' Newsletter