Members Missing

From, Hymns of My War Unpublished collection “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, In this casket is most of your son. We strongly recommend cremation. The rest remains missing in action, With the thanks of a grateful nation.” Graves registration records them, “Members Missing”; Limbs now of a foreign flora? Will the Resurrecting Repatriate them from the Sao Den and Cu Chi trees, Or the killing fields endlessly cycle their lees? No, no more mustering to the drums, as names In limestones will report for their remains - Until the last of memories unwrites any claim By they who sent them to mindlessly proclaim, “Thank you for your service” Copyright Paul Thomson 2019