At the Vfw Post In Buang, Phillipines

At the VFW Post in Buang, Philippines they know Macarthur Staggering off then Swaggering back onto These Philippines Islands and the Wail of Hirohito Drowning in chorus with the headsman’s gush of Bloodstained tears Upon the occasion Of Bataan Remembered. Then in repose off old Mactan, there still smiles Lapu Lapu in his Billion particles Drifting a sea to the Portuguese dance of Forgotten melodies while Sugarcane hills Rise in symphony for Jose Rizal and the Three hundred and some odd year smoldering hue of Senior Legazpi Clutching the Sunrise brilliant over Manila Gleaming. For the sand still whispers to the Prodigal bow of Yamashita’s gunboat and the Mindanao lair of two old samurai Forever glistening in the jungle deep as God’s Perfection crescendos to the Indefatigable, Invincible, Infinitely indelible thought that Battle, Broken in all man can make, Fades Forever. So when does Empire reek It’s savage On the splendid meek In lands long gotten over Purchased souls as the Old boys Master around Three dollar specials and the Endless clink of San Miguels join Hank Williams in an aging jukebox Carefully laid for one night, When all the glories of a thousand years are Wonderfully recited in an Afternoon when a Sunglass wearing, Corn-cob pipe-smoking, “Look at me now” presence of a Gangly man Dashed ashore in the Post mortem swelter of a Gallant soldier’s Passing? September 2009 Jeff Troyer