"Aren't you going to shave?" some one asked

"Shave," I thought, "Why would I want to shave?"

we're here in the jungle

a bunch of guys warring play

very little play

dirty

sweating

foolish

twenty seven men/boys

i was the old man at twenty one

"who cares about shaving?", I said to no one in particular

then, in one of life's surreal moments I saw a vision

and the vision was real

a white woman in a red velvet elf costume, no two of them

my mind was dial tone, my heart was flat line

I had no resources to understand what was going on

except it became important to shave

It was Christams day in the jungle of Viet Nam

doughnut dollies brought an unexpected mail call

and egg nog in little cartons, everybody got several

I had a package

my Dad sent a fifth of bourbon and suddenly I was loved by everyone

(except maybe the dollies who smiled but hugged no one, i don't blame them)

it was the best bourbon and egg nog I've ever tasted

about three the next day eleven of our twenty seven were dead

twelve of our twenty seven were wounded

I got a medal

and got twisted inside

but at least I didn't wake up dead

I was ashamed when I went to the American Legion last month

and talked to heros of WW 2

I was ashamed because I suffered in an unneeded non-war

which no one wanted to hear about until lately

sometimes hard lessons produce good results

I'm grieved but no longer crying

My heart aches for the patriots in Iraq

but I'm very glad they're there

this will protect the tall buildings of American pride

from the death worship of unreasoning hate

and I'm sure

they won't be ashamed

when I see them at the American Legion

*tears*

God bless you

the patriots of Iraqi Freedom

03/29/2003