Soft, this younger generation –
Grandpap’s said it oft before;
We’ll soon know, because his grandson
Is a-goin’ off to war!
We will take Gran ‘pappy with us,
Since he always loved to fight,
And regarded us as sissies
From the hoarse depths of his might.
We will show him what we moderns
With his Civil War have done,
For we know that back in his day
They were knocked off one by- one!
We will show him mass-production
Of our planes and guns and tanks
(And, I’ve no doubt, have to show him
Which are Rebels, which are Yanks)
We will brag of the Bazooka,
Of block-busters, and our jeeps;
And I’ll bet our fighter-pilots
Give him forty kinds of creeps.
But
When I have him half-convinced, he’ll
See our ‘WAVES and SPARS and WACS;
Then I’ll know I’ve lost the battle:
“HOLD IT, GRANDSON, JUST RELAX !
“Had me sold upon the notion
That you boys today are tough –
And the WOMEN do your FIGHTIN’ !
Too much, sonny, is ENOUGH!”
by Ray Romine Tuesday, December 28, 1943
