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This poem and others are available in my books, Nothing Works: Meditations on Aikido, Buddhism, the Tao, Zen, and other inconsequential things....and, Nothing Special..., available thru Amazon.com, in print and Kindle editions and Barnes & Noble websites.....Also available as an e-book via Smashwords.com. Try this link: www.nothing-works.com for the full array of options.
The legs come off
The legs go on
Wonderful prosthetics
Modern day marvels
Keeping me out of a wheelchair
Allowing me to do
Amazing things
Like walk and run
Still, when the real legs
First came off
Amid explosions and blood
And much, much shock and pain
(Blessedly, memory ends there)
It was less than pleasant!
Though leaving two legs
Behind on the battlefield
Really, really sucks!
I am proud to have served
But, but, let's make
Each war worth it!
So that as much as possible
Body-bags are left empty
And limbs remain attached
Please!
The point of the spear
Needs to trust
The leaders at home
That putting the spear
In harm's way
Is important, has a meaning
For people and country
Not just for ego, money, or
Corporate expansion
This battle sponsored by
SmartWeapons™, fulfilling
all your combat needs!
Should our APCs have a
Corporate logo on them? ForceForward™, get there safely!
Should our C-130s flash
A big happy-meal sign
As they roar down the runway?
Should our drones broadcast: This smart-missile brought
to you by KillChips™
Before they fire? Please bring some shrapnel back
for a free coupon!
Bang! You're dead!
So, make sure it is
All worth it and done
For the right reasons
For even with my
Wonderful prosthetics
My stumps cry out
In phantom-limb pain
The spirits of my lost limbs
Weep and are tormented
Haunted by their loss
For vanished sensation and life
And, my feet, how my feet long
For the feel of cool grass
Between their toes!
05-18-2014 05:52 PM 
