MEMORIAL DAY

MEMORIAL DAY

Today we honor
those who chose
if choose they did
to serve and die in uniform

For some cause or causes
made noble by
their dying

And by ennobling
perhaps persuade

Is the next day, or the next
for those who shared the hell
but did not dress so well

And their numbers
oh yes, the terrible
terrible numbers

But we best not
speak of numbers
for in death, one
is the only number

And if we cannot
speak of math
can we speak
of aftermath

Land mines in the ground
mass destruction
in slow motion

Land mines in the mind
a uniform heritage
for those who did
and did not wear
a uniform

A moment of silence now
for us all