The Soldier

THE SOLDIER

HE SAT DOWN WITH US
A BEERY GROUP OF YOUNGISH MEN
NOT WANTING TO BE OLD AND REACH THIRTY
WE TALKED OF SEX ESCAPADES AND 
MONEY-MAKING SCHEMES WHICH HAD 
FALLEN DOWN 
AND BOUNCED AWAY FROM THE TV NEWS

“I’D SHOOT YOU FOR THREE HUNDRED”,
HE SAID, NOT SMILING,
I NODDED IN CAUTIOUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
HIS BARBED WIRE EYES LOOKED AT HIS  WRISTWATCH

LATER YOU COULD HEAR HIM COUGHING IN
THE TOILET: THEN IN A SHORT WHILE 
HE WALKED THROUGH THE ROOM WITH ITS 
STORM OF TABLES AND CHAIRS  WHICH
PARTED MOSES-STYLE TO LET HIM THROUGH,

COUGHING AND CURSING, ANGRY THAT 
THERE WERE  NO MORE WARS TO FIGHT, 
EXCEPTING THE ONES IN HIS HEAD
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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