SIDEWAYS ACROSS SAND

Late afternoon, yellow light sideways across sand
September sidles up to the season
Days disappear into dust
Kicked up by convoys conducting presence patrols

In villages

Seven GMVs go out
Sometimes only six return
Brown Adder sunning itself

A forgotten length of rope

Along the dirt road
The local Mullah calls the faithful to prayer
His is a train whistle drawing a line

Across the prairie

Behind my house in front of the Faltirons
Now even tens years hence
That place like all landscapes only exists

Inside of me

How many times for five times a day have I heard his wail
Slither like that snake over earth filled HESCOES
Through gates blown apart

by VBIEDs


Repaired twice

The Marines now behind double barricaded bunkers
By which the vendors and merchants in their Jinga trucks
Drive facing into the expectant mouth of the 50 cal.

Colors grow mute and a sliver of moon

Visited by a single star

Signal time for radio watch
I walk into the TOC

Close the flap behind

Dust settles back in the sand