first deployment
“Hajji Land”
buddy’s femur
jutting out his camo
roaring at the sky
disembodied hands
stiff & defiant
like upturned,
peach-colored crabs
is it mercy
they didn’t make me
bullet-check
that pile
of huddling torsos?
dreams are merciful
licking up
her skinned knees
giggles & sandy shoulders
him wanna squeeze
life out
of every vessel
of every heart
that ever existed
oblivion
alarm clock drone
another cut
sky too vast
for American senility
feet on hardwood
dream notepad:
“nothing objective”
“hurricane skies”
“water’s fury”
open the kitchen door
that familiar look
bitter, pinched lips
a lobotomized smirk,
disdain
familiar stranger
can you make me smile
before they attach
the electrodes?