Waiting

I remember That summer Days in slow motion Longer nights Nothing to do Bored And angry I enlisted. Military orders In breast pocket Standing In formation Gear Next to my right leg Family, friends and memories Lurking Somewhere in the shadows. Cargo plane Engines thrusting Size beyond imagination Pushing through a crowd Of olive green fatigues I grab a seat near the back Meet another soldier Friendly round face Broad shoulders Southern drawl We share some things in common I call him Country He calls me City. An eternity Flying in the clouds Hours pass We finally land Stomach churning Running on adrenalin We disembark Carrying 90lb backpacks Walking into Oppressive heat Nauseating smell Suspicion everywhere In the distance an ugly black cloud Blocks the sun From a place where children hide And death is just a step away. Numb with fear All the tough words and slogans From basic training Slip away I grip my rifle A soldier yells out Watch my back And I’ll watch yours The words strike a raw nerve Country slaps me on the back Up front someone cracks a joke Nervously we laugh And I think to myself Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.