Poem: That Was Long Ago

The histories of the lands in which we live catch up with us.

That Was Long Ago These Czechs, our friends     hung in the balance,     looking West in 1938     and Chamberlain turned his back But that was long ago Too long for backpacks to remember     a time before their time These Czechs, our friends     took Chamberlain’s bullet     for seven long years     in darkness and sweat and fear But maybe that was long ago as well     and if they trusted us briefly again,     then this time Truman turned away These Czechs, our friends     were sold out twice within ten years     and each time from the West     and our band played, our flag flew elsewhere But maybe that was long ago     and McDonalds is reparation enough     for three generations dealt away at conferences These Czechs, our friends     hung in while we hung out,     for fifty years and then took to the streets     to take their country back Not all that long ago, unless you had to wait And if their smiles are thin now, looking West,     we might be grateful there are smiles at all

This poem is included in Jim Freeman's poetry collection CORNER OF MY MIND available here in print or as an e-Book in your favorite formats.