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.