I'm Sasha; 12; running through a field,
my five year old sister Marta holding my hand;
a field we've been through a thousand times.
A bloom! A beautiful bloom; Marta pulls away;
goes to see the flower...Boom! Rocks fly.
I'm on the ground; hear running feet-screams;
must have been a land mine [groggy].
Thank God I didn't get close; must check on
Marta; must stand up; I can't! Oh My God!
My legs; one blown off at the knee, the other
mid-calf! [pain, blood, I'm fading] Marta!
Oh God...all I see is her sweet head...
Five years old...No body...just her head.
Sounds...I begin to awaken; must have been
a dream...NO! [groggy; pain]. I'm in a white
room; voices...doctor saying "... with prosthetics
she'll be able to lead a functional life;
almost normal." Can't speak...try to scream;
parents draw closer and hold me; comfort
me; "Marta!...land mine...almost normal."
I fade back to blackness.

Copyright ©1996 - 2003 Jeff Mason