Good James K.

 I awoke with that

Nights dream still new

In my mind,

 

But not until I rose,

Washed my hair,

Washed my hands

 

Did I realize.

 

There were soldiers,

They wanted me to

take their photos.

 

They wanted me to

Capture the dirt,

Every laceration.

 

They wanted me to

Find anything that would reveal

Their swollen scrotum's.

 

They wanted me to

Ignore the small child

At their feet.

 

I didn't know where

We were. Thick bush.

Jerusalem?

 

Inside the hut,

All was well until

The soldiers

 

Set it alight.

Needless to say

They fled.

 

You were there,

Stretched out,

On a bed.

 

Asleep?

Unconscious?

Dead?

 

No matter.

"You shalln't

Go this way."

 

In the adjacent room

There was a murderer

In the same state.

 

Perhaps if I had the strength

He too would be saved

From the flames.

 

"But not this time 'round

Criminal. Killer of man.

You were graced here last time."

 

I picked you up.

Your body shrunk.

No bigger

 

Than a small child.

How strange to see long black hair

and a thick wiry beard

 

On a shell

I could cradle

With ease.

 

Your long, unkempt toenails

Dug into my arm.

A grasp at life?

 

I saw the same defiance,

lust for life, of

Your father.

 

You could've died.

Perished in flames

Good man.

 

If I hadn't thought:

"You shalln't go this way,

Good James K."

Reviews

[deeps]

Wow! This is awesome!
Driven to stay the same, I can feel the emotion pour out.
This is wonderful.