LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER

Focus. Focus, they say. Count to ten,

Don’t have the time. Have to respond, must respond

Rapidly. It’s done again and again.

Can barely stay awake. Can’t remember the last

Time I slept.

Fire! Fire! It passes the ear. Heard it.

Focus. Focus, they say.

React. React, they say. Don’t think too much.

Leave that for the welcome-home-party.

Heard of a guy, got home and shot himself.

Went home and shot himself. Don’t think too much.

Don’t let it get you. Don’t let the fear in.

React. React they say.

Blessed. Blessed, they say. Never did miss. Never been good

At anything except buttoning my shirt, but this works.

Locate the target, focus and FIRE!

The last of the original company.

Blessed. Blessed, they say.

Hero. Hero, they say. They are falling down one by one.

A kid is crawling around looking for his hand.

Came here today. Looked away a second too long.

Saw it coming. Can’t feel the leg. The right side

Is torn to pieces.

Hero. Hero, they say.

Be afraid. Be afraid, I say. Never was afraid.

Acted according to orders like a

Good soldier. Did everything – the daily cleaning,

Remembered everything – what do to after firing.

Tells me I’m shaking. In the desert and I’m shaking.

Can’t hold it back anymore.

Be afraid. Be afraid, I say.