Deferred

I never shot a commie or a Nazi
In ’66, but this is what I did:
Field-stripped an M1 when I was in ROTC.
There were a lot of metal things that slid,
And springs and clips and T-shaped bits galore.
Clip latches, swivels, trigger guard, and trigger
All fell apart. I never went to war.
I think it would have asked for far more rigor
Disassembling my first carburetor.
I learned you never call your piece a gun.
I learned there’d be no sacrifice much greater
Than two semesters’ drill with that M1
To get me out of Michigan’s PE
Requirement. By April, I was free.