Some fight for family: some fight for home;
Some say they’re scrapping for downfall of Rome;
Some others look forward to Hitler’s demise;
Some think the glory enough of a prize;
Some are ambitious and want to slap Japs;
Others, still more so: they want to change maps;
Some fight for religion; some fight for right,
While some there are, even, who fight Just to fight.
What’s sauce for the gander is sauce for the geese:
The women are fighting, they maintain, for peace.
Some are who own cider-mills–they fight, I guess,
To uphold their apples, and freedom of PRESS!
Some don’t like the doctrines our enemies teach;
But ME–I’m a great one for FREEDOM OF SPEECH!
For where, but this country, when Presidents talk,
Can one shout back an answer, or raise heck, or squawk?
I like to beef when the beefing is good;
I like my crabbing as no human should.
I claim that my griping is good for the soul–
A safety-valve keeping America whole.
However we differ–down deep we’re all same:
We love this ol’ country without fear or shame.
I’ll fight for your reasons: for order and law;
Hardest I’ll fight, though, for FREEDOM OF JAW!
I really am grateful for free speech–you see,
My country thus puts up with POETS(?) LIKE ME!
by Ray Romine Sunday, June 20, 1943
