Homage To A Private Soldier Poem by Michael Pruchnicki

You think that a citation written
by a rear echelon MFer
counts for much?

Think again he said sitting
up in the bed That's like
my brother who uses my name
in peace protests What's
he know about fighting?

Or fucking, for that matter?
Pencil-neck geek in grad
school He marches to the beat
of a different drummer
Never mind his chatter
about love your enemy

Waterboarding he accuses
me of Name
one victim I ask him
but he can't He repeats
word for word self-serving
nonsense from teachers
and classmates
at the university

All I know he said gesturing
at the ward full of wounded men
is what our enemy taught us

Should I ask the Lord my God
for a sign? Is not this enough
to try the patience of a saint?
Why am I lying here crippled
in body and in despair?

Jesus, is that not sign enough?