The Unknown Soldier

he seemed like other kids,
prone to bump his head
on roller coasters, begging
more money for skateboards,
skipping classes to kiss
smooth flesh in dark
hallways.

he learned the language but
not the emphasis, rolling his
damns into hells into suck face
oblivion, then surprising
even his C minus grade card
by joining the Marines, parents
so proud, sent him
off to war a big red lipstick kiss
on his cheek from gramma
who lost her
husband too in ‘44;
but that war seemed so good,
so righteous, not like
today’s when bullets smack
chest protectors like baseball’s
summer thump, and C minus
grades give no protection
at all.