"The older generation must learn to 
sacrifice as other generations have done." 
- attributed to Former President Clinton

SACRIFICE
by John T. Baker
"The older generation must,"
We recently have read,
"Now learn at last to sacrifice,"
The President has said.

Well, that's MY generation, sir!
You're making me feel bad;
I'm all choked up with guilt about
The easy time we had.

We've lived the life of Riley since
Depression days back when
We dined at posh soup kitchens and
Earned pennies now and then.

We strolled the streets both day and night
And had a high old time
In hunting food and singing songs
Like, "Brother, Spare a Dime?"

Come World War II our cups were filled,
Thanks to the Pentagon,
With fabulous exotic trips
To Iceland and Bataan.

We cruised the North Atlantic and
We sailed the Coral Sea;
We basked on bonny beaches from
Midway to Normandy.

Our sojourns in Salerno and
The Battle of the Bulge
Were packed with thrills and so much fun
We yearned to more indulge.

We lolled on Okinawa and
On Iwo Jima shore;
Guadanalcal was quite a blast,
As was Corregidor.

We toured along North Africa,
Camped out in old Oran,
Encountered kamikazes and
Vacationed in Japan.

This brief review makes evident
How pampered we have been;
We all must show repentance for
Our generation's sin.

Coda:

So many of us went to war,
So many paid the price,
It's hard to learn that now we need
To learn to sacrifice.