One War Story And Two Deaths Poem by Chen-ou Liu

a tanka set

a head
severed from the body
grits its teeth...
moonlight luster on the faces
of young Israeli soldiers

'back from Gaza
Ezra couldn't stop the war
in his head...'
our father holds his shroud tight
as he is being buried


FYI: National military service is mandatory for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18. And a Jewish burial shroud is a simple hand-made garment that has no buttons, zippers, or fasteners of any type.