Points! Points! Points!

When the Japanese surrendered ending World War ll, the Navy had a system in place to decide the order in which service men and women were to be discharged: There were so many points for the number of months in service; So many points for the number of months oversees; So many points for the number of battles; and, So many points for the number of children.

Here is a poem I wrote after the system came out and I found I was short on the sufficient number of points to go home. I was not discharged until January 16, 1946:

Points
By Jim Thompson
September 28, 1945

Points! Points! Points!
Are there enough for me?
A point in need, a point indeed
To leave this peaceful sea.

Points! Points! Points!
Afar and near to me,
Of them I’ll boast and drink a toast,
To them today that’s free.

Points! Points! Points!
To God above I pray.
For points two score, and plus four more
My flesh and blood betray.

Points! Points! Points!
This word has swept the land
From sprouting seed to men that lead
On lips and hearts of man.

Copyright © 2005 Jim Thompson. All rights reserved.