After the rocket, still alive and
shaking in the dirt, I laughed silly
before I heard their screams,
ran to see what it had done
What I saw and heard silenced me,
forever froze my eyes, my gut,
at the sight of blood and gore
I did not know until I woke
suddenly with a shout
that the explosion of long ago
was the moment when
molten metal blocked all tears,
made my kisses cold
Now, before I sleep I brush
away the sheen of memory
to find again a better morning
when I was five years old,
my mother laughing at me
for no special reason