[Newspoetry] Newspoem -- Special Request

[Robert Porter]

Special Request

You know, I don't ask a lot
I'm not egoist enough to expect the world
to conform to my desires
But just for today, because it's my birthday
I'd like to make the following request:

Can we not kill anybody today?
Especially kids, cause that's really bad

Also, if soldiers are going to start killing each other
instead of their opponents
Maybe we need to rethink this whole "army" thing

Lastly, can we stop calling antiwar demonstrators "traitors"
because they are exercising the rights so many have
died to defend?

So can we do this?
Just for today?
For my birthday?

No?