Daniel Romo’s “En(d)list”

by Daniel Romo

En(d)list

“My father’s in the army.  He wants me to join.  But I can’t work for that corporation.”   Lloyd Dobbler- Say Anything

Manny’s on leave from the Army
Says he’s gonna’ see the world
Germany, France, West Virginia

Says it’s easy and makes ya’ buff

Says he’s got Thursdays off
and he’s havin’ fun

Says he no longer has to worry
about drive-bys in the night
and eses on the corner that fight

Says he’s done writin’ essays in class
worrying about whether or not he’ll pass
cause he’s gonna’ be sergeant first-class

Says he’s tired of terrible teachers
who were first class dicks
stupid pricks
couldn’t think of anything else to pursue

Says no one can tell him what to do
and, and,
and FUCK UNIFORMS
he looks better in green than his whole platoon

He is free to be
‘cause Manny’s in the Army now.

Daniel Romo teaches high school Creative Writing, and lives in Long Beach, CA.  He has been most recently published in “Poetry Superhighway,” “Camroc Press Review,” and “Chickasaw Plum.” He is currently seeking admittance into a rather swell low residency MFA program.  Daniel strives to be witty and relevant in his poetry, and thinks gray sky the utmost inspiration.