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A soldier's life
The ammo ricochets through
the night.
Flashes of lightening illuminate
the skies.
Sounds of pounding:
hearts beating,
lungs struggling to bring oxygen
to the body,
beads of sweat
dropping to the sandy earth below,
uniquely carrying
the fear of each soldier.
Voices whisper commands
and the ones in uniform
obey without hesitation.
The smell of death
fills their nostrils.
Burning flesh
blood and
vomit.
A soldier stumbles
upon the enemy.
They’re dead.
With anger and feelings of revenge,
the soldier loads the lifeless body
with nineteen more bullets.
What a waste.
In this corpses’ back pocket
rests a photo.
His wife and children smile
innocently back at no one.
The 3x5 wallet-sized photo
curls as the fire
alters the man’s body into ashes.
Did the soldier know
wherever this man roamed,
his family followed?
When this man had died,
his family also went with him.
