Memories Raw

I sweat a lot

Few around me know war

The kind that flamed through jungles

An old buddy who lies in Arlington knows

Sweat in my eyes

Like Napalm residue

Frankie’s on crutches

Giving a Lucky to a begging blind villager

Earlier…

Paddy lakes were calm in the early morning light

We’re all stumbling along that winding road

Moving away from the burning of nothing left to burn

I pause for the furry whatever to cross the road

His coat still smoldering from bombardment

The remaining fog is sucked into smoke

Smoke

Smoke

Flames reaching out

Pass through a village

American flags still burning

Inside a gray once-shrine-like shelter

The white Buddha now of blood and ashen dust

Child holding small candle crying to the Buddha

The hot wax dripping across his small hand

What’s left of it

I break my exhaustion into a run

Passing innocent villagers burned

Burned

Burned

Down the body strewn road

Little to see

Smoke thick

And dense jungle

Closing in on me

Oh God

Oh Christ

We’re all fucked

F***ed.