***** uncertain words escape my raccoon eyes,
I speak to you, my friend. Did you know
I saw a boy
who used to throw chalk at me in class
who used to be the quickest in soccer
who used to be best friends with your older brother
who used to have a home –
I saw him
broken down by hatred.
Today that little boy
who was Team Blue in Color War
Now smokes two packs a day
now his eye are
Times the danger,
Minus the mischief,
Add the stress. Add the red caked on his memory. Add the bonewhite weariness
that comes with duty.
today a county is wiped clean –
minus the purity, the holiness,
add the tension –
see it as it breaks its teeth on this boy.
See it jump and grab his ankles –
only his ***** gray fingernails are holding him back
until he discovers
how much addition his country needs.