There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives and in our daily tasks. Here at home everyone will have the privilege of making whatever self-denial is necessary, not only to supply our fighting men, but to keep the economic structure of our country fortified and secure during the war and after the war.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s radio broadcast to the nation, April 28, 1942


Saturday, May 14, 2011

What Makes an Enemy?


Viviana

WHAT MAKES AN ENEMY?

My Papa left Italy
to get away from "El Duce."
He left his home
because Mussolini
is a man not to be trusted.
Over here,
Papa is considered
a man not to be trusted.

Papa is Italian.
We are at war with Italy.
And, to some, that makes Papa
the enemy.

Papa works long, hard hours
to provide for his family.
With great pride he sends
his oldest son into the Marines.
In his broken English
Papa sings Praise the Lord
and Pass the Ammunition,
loudly and with all his heart.

This is no enemy.
This is no saboteur.
This is my Papa—
an American!

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo courtesy Library of Congress.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Great project, Diane!

Thanks for participating in Poetry Friday this week!

:-) Anastasia

September 23, 2011 at 2:24 PM

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