Order of battle:
Take cover in pantry closet
Spend afternoon arranging cans
of beans, mixed vegetables, soups,
containers of salt, pepper, spices
Gather packages of pastas,
sandbag them in a drawer
Organize provisions on shelves:
boxes of crackers, popcorn,
cookies, sacks of chips, nachos,
nuts and miscellaneous
Line up dishes, glasses, cups
into departments, day-to-day,
stash fine Christmas china
in nooks and crannies
Regroup in great room, sit alone
staring out windows as sun
disappears behind mountain
Close blinds, turn off lights
Plug ears as fireworks explode
Guzzle vodka on sofa, nod off,
wake to all clear
Crawl up steps to check out bed
Use flashlight to recon for
booby traps and sappers
Curl on mattress for taps
Imagine your time overseas
as a nightmare you had