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


Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Free Admission

Laura


FREE ADMISSION

The Regent Theater is
giving free admission
to the matinee if you
contribute records.

It’s for the war effort.

The records are used
in making shellac.
Don’t ask me what
the shellac is used for.

It’s for the war effort.

I don’t think I can
bear to part with one
of my Sinatra records.
Not the Jo Stafford ones!

Not even for the war effort.

Maybe, just maybe, I can
get some of Enrico Caruso’s.
No one but Papa listens to opera.
And if he protests, I’ll say,

"It’s for the war effort."

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo courtesy Sam Samuelian.

1 comment:

Andrea Murphy said...

Writing a war poem that leaves your reader smiling is not an easy feat. At least this reader is smiling.

January 13, 2012 at 8:22 AM

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