Old Aunt Mary Poem by Dorsey Baker

Old aunt Mary
she was a private
in the army
being a nurse
she cared for
the wounded
she still smells
the taste of death
as it stinks
up the air in her throat
and melts in her salty mouth
she watches the bloodbath
she hears the screams
of the mothers as their babies
fall out of their arms
dead upon the battleground
guns pointed at one another
firing with deadly intent
her nightmares
every night
brings back the pain
the sound of the bombs exploding
her ears popping like fire crackers
her eyes witness
so much death and destruction
it is a stormy night
old aunt Mary forces open the door
of the house
runs naked to disappear
in the downpour of heavy rain!