Ken Rubin

War Poems Ken Rubin

War has been central to human history. I first became aware of war at age 7 in a peaceful small New Jersey town when I saw a bubble gum card depicting the Japanese attack on the USS Panay in 1937. You can see film of this at: https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZQEqKDg8ek. In 1939, the Germans invaded Poland. On December 7, 1941 I was listening to a favorite radio program when the announcer interrupted to report the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. My cousin was killed in the Pacific Theatre by the Japanese. I was too young to serve. I avoided the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Time spent in Russia, Austria and Italy exposed me to some of war's aftermath. The poems in this book partially reflect my experience as a bystander, a lucky survivor who feels indebted.