<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Monsanto’s Gift to War<\/strong><\/p>\n Smitty isn’t Schulte. not knowing they had been Two big officers, <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nHe doesn’t drive a Cadillac
\nand doesn’t hit his wife
\noften any more.
\nSchulte, on the other hand,
\ndrives a Cadillac
\nand hits his wife
\nusually on weekends
\nfor no good reason.
\nHe’s been doing that for
\nmore than 40 years
\never since the boys
\ncame home from Viet Nam<\/p>\n
\ntouched by Agent Orange,
\nMonsanto’s gift to war.
\nThey had a double wedding with
\ngirls they liked in high school.
\nSmitty says therapy
\nhas helped a little.
\nHe hasn’t struck his
\nsecond wife in years.
\nBut Schulte hasn’t changed.
\nThe police have come again
\ntonight, sirens blaring,
\ngumball lights swirling.<\/p>\n
\nmatched like bookends,
\nmarch Schulte out in cuffs.
\nHe’s cursing at his wife
\nwho’s in a nightgown
\nbawling on the porch
\nas if Schulte’s going
\nback to Nam again.
\nSmitty swears Schulte
\nnever left the paddies, that
\nhe’s still knee-deep in water
\nbright with Agent Orange,
\nMonsanto’s gift to war.<\/p>\n