Unknown Soldier
by Alex Wentz
First four; fresh pine
outfit, dirt hair.
Bloodied blue hat
at my shoes. Tag
collecting’s all I did,
keeping fresh hands for mom.
Next six; a good cause at
last. Same trenches, new planes.
Dad said go out and win.
Boy dropped, war stopped, peace locked
eternally. One more, they said, win sure,
they said. At my boot lie my best man’s head.
Children at home, wife said don’t go, TV
seems to agree. Is that tree just a tree?
Each step legs quaking, is the ground below
breaking? Honey cloud on the horizon,
bees buzzing in my ear. Scarlet pouring
out my side. My daughter’s laughing’s all I
hear. Searching, crying, some got to go home.
Mine became the tomb of soldiers unknown.
by Alex Wentz
First four; fresh pine
outfit, dirt hair.
Bloodied blue hat
at my shoes. Tag
collecting’s all I did,
keeping fresh hands for mom.
Next six; a good cause at
last. Same trenches, new planes.
Dad said go out and win.
Boy dropped, war stopped, peace locked
eternally. One more, they said, win sure,
they said. At my boot lie my best man’s head.
Children at home, wife said don’t go, TV
seems to agree. Is that tree just a tree?
Each step legs quaking, is the ground below
breaking? Honey cloud on the horizon,
bees buzzing in my ear. Scarlet pouring
out my side. My daughter’s laughing’s all I
hear. Searching, crying, some got to go home.
Mine became the tomb of soldiers unknown.