Sunken Pride

Pete Hegseth
The Navy has an oiler ship that’s named for Harvey Milk.
He served in the Korean War; discharged for being gay.
He fought for civil rights, along with others of his ilk –
a chapter of our history that I wish would go away.

The USNS Harvey Milk, with others in its group,
belonging to a class of ships named for the great John Lewis,
may all be recommissioned with new names, in one fell swoop.
It’s just one more example of what D.E.I.’s done to us.

The list of other icons with their names affixed to ships –
Cesar Chavez, Medgar Evers, RBG, and Thurgood Marshall,
Lucy Stone, Harriet Tubman – shall no longer pass our lips,
since it’s only straight, white “warriors” to whom you’ll find me partial.

See – I’m trying to make a point here, in this month that’s named for “Pride”:
as for those deserving honor, a specific style of shoe fits.
The Department of Defense, o’er which I currently preside,
mirrors Trump’s thoughts about dignity and grace – we don’t give two shits.