By Tiffin
© 1999 Tiffin, all rights reserved
Low wobbles of birds filter humid thick air.
Palm leaves funnel agent-orange dips.
Hushed voices stream over rifles firing.
Dagger's rust in rivers unnamed.
Limbs decay feeding rice paddy's thirst.
Eyes filled with hope and courage.
Now redden by death so slow.
Wits dulled by constant barrage.
Hands tremble between slender bamboo.
Begging for a letter to be sent home.
Alone he sits.
Poise of stature: brave and true.
Cradled in arms of silence.
Dog tag shines.
As sweat trickles over rigid black skin.
Foreign tongues twist and snarl.
Such calm is unnatural they shout and laugh.
Carbines aim
Bullets tease, caress.
Chopper blades hum above.
Thirty footsteps pound the earth.
Muted hands turn lifeless bodies along the path.
In blood soaked ground,
Sgt. Michael stands alone.
Saluting his men without one arm.