"Formality of Elegance"
Jon was in R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officer Training Corps.) when he was a Freshman in college. He really wanted to do this class but as soon as he started school, they yanked the program from UMSL's campus! That meant he had to somehow, without a car, get to P.T. (Physical Training) at 6 in the morning at Forest Park! And classes, retreats and other events at Washington University if he wanted to stay in the program! As you can tell, the whole thing angered me. I wrote this poem after we went to the formal dinner party.
February 25, 1994
Dress Greens; Army
Dress Blues; Navy
Black velvet dress
Black sky overhead
Stars and stripes
Stars and rank
Sergeant Mason
Sergeant-at-arms
Receiving line
Receiving dinner
Toast to the president
Toast and butter
Slip of the tongue
Slip showing
Parade of honor
Parade of emotion
Love for him
Love for her
Love for country
She's with Generals
She's with society
Formality of war
Formality of Elegance
(~*
