The young corporal
wants his arms back,
and his girlfriend,
and two hands
to cut up Thanksgiving dinner
before it gets cold
He wants to play again
in the Turkey Bowl
at his boyhood park
with high school buddies
like he used to
but they’ve gone missing
into first homes
with wives and kids
playing in the backyard
He wants what else went missing
on ambush patrol outside Tay Ninh City
and to hell with a Bronze Star Medal
and a disability check and
a “Thank you for your service
to your country”
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