The story is never written,
A narrative never told.
The old lined paper
Kempt by metal fingers,
A face wrinkled with use;
Scarred-- with gray tributes,
Slashed with gaudy limelight.
Serrations of effect,
Course by course
Delineation of subjects.
180 men strong -
standing at attention.
Hundreds of guns--
Straight and narrow:
Waiting for the charge,
Muzzle-flash discharge.
Three identical wounds,
Inflicted on the men;
Identity branded skin.