Canto 2, xxxi. xxxii. xxxiii. xxxiv.

xxxi “By going Jeep,” said Huge, “I’ll save you time,
Believe me, Son; I know whereof I speak;
So set back, Grundy, dig this tune and rhyme!”
A cassette player he commenced to tweak
And “Season of the Witch” came through, in weak
But psychedelic Donovan refrains.
“In Infantry, your prospects look’d quite bleak,
That witchy, scorching Sun would stitch your brains:
But welcome to Em-Pees, we’re hip to ease your pains!”

xxxii. The Jeep, geared underway, soon motored past
A sorry sight that shook our Kid a shake,
Huge, stopping at the strange formation, asked
The Kid to listen up. A Sarge then spake
“You: ghosts! Your Uncle Sam wants you to take
Your Date Expect Return from Over Seas
And stretch it out six months. Make no mistake:
Extend in Vietnam and he will grease
Your palms with boocoo coin – Blood money if you please!”

xxxiii. “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
It’s ‘Hurry up and wait’; ‘Go out and play.’
Until your orders’ cut, you’ll need to borrow
From all your yesterdays to spend today.
So why not re-enlist? It’s bonus pay!
Extend your tour of duty, rotate home
And take a burst of three. What do you say?
Put money in your pocket. When in Rome … “
The way the sargeant spoke, It sounded like a poem.

xxxiv. Therewith a piteous airborne Voice was heard,
Crying a cry that brought strong men to tears!
A tender plaintive trill. The Re-Up Bird
Let fly, “Gee-Eye! Car payments in arrears?
Late mortgage payments sum of all your fears?
Your  Lady needs more cash from  you, dear Sir?
Those Death Bennies won’t spend  too far, my dears!
With Reenlistment Man I do concur,
You need more ready cash, lest you end up in stir.”