The Second Chance Pin Poem by Thomas Thompson

Saturday, June 13,2015; Revised October 15,2015

The Second Chance Pin

Last night while watching Orange is The New Black
I was suddenly transfixed by a renegade Afgan soldier
Tossing a grenade into a tent as he angrily ran by

Turning stone cold as my mind flashed back to that grey laden sky one cold rainy afternoon

In a far away land as I sat in the back of a dimly lit Highlands bar

Nursing beer after beer trying to unwind for a few precious hours

A vain attempt to escape the savagery of war in a world gone awry

Knowing no number of beers would ever right
The twisted normality my world had become

Suddenly tense as friendly fire unexpectedly erupted not far from where I sat

Jangled nerves instantly driving me to the floor as the door violently flung open

A rogue ARVN soldier briefly silhouetted as he tossed something inside

Watching in horror as the grenade arced through the air

Felt each bounce as I lay pressed against the floor

Heard it roll closer and closer as time stood still

Long seconds passing as I awaited the explosion of a thousand shards of red-hot death

My pounding heart screaming to stay alive in a world suddenly silent

Slowly becoming aware of the river rushing by not far from where I lay

Almost crying in disbelief as I slowly raised my head and saw

The renegade soldier not pulled the pin as he ran furiously by

Awareness settling in I would live to see another day

To reflect upon why what was done then
Has not yet been undone
Even though yesteryear became today

In a world still awry


Tommy