Exempt from the Draft
Janet Kuypers
11/12/16
I’m not in a military family.
My father, because of the size
of the family he raised,
was always exempt from the draft.
But when the Gulf war started
I heard my friends saying
they wanted to sign up to fight
and I was nervous that they’d go,
that they’d be taken away from me.
I know when you’re young
you’ve got something to prove
and combat shows off your machismo,
but everyone, because they’re young,
thinks they’re invincible. And you’re not.
So lucky me, all stayed here,
and I didn’t have to worry
about all my chicks
leaving their flock before their time.
But you, you came from a military
family, Army, Navy, the Marines.
And I hear stories of your father
stationed in Europe, and I hear
you tell stories of flying at night
to other countries, ready to fight.
And maybe I’m the one
who like to keep the ones I love
too close to me, but all I can say
is that I’m glad I didn’t know you
in your military days, because I’d
worry too much. And this is only
one reason why I’m grateful
that you’re here with me today.
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