Young Marine
debarks a C-130
in a foreign land
Heat...jungles
monsoons
language I cannot understand
Running across a rice paddy
motor rounds exploding
in a line behind me
walking towards me
Midnight
camouflage paint
covers face and hands
muscles stiff
from lack of movement
silence complete...total
Hours pa**ed
voices heard
enemy is coming down
the trail
Raising my M-16
sweat runs down my face
stomach tightens in knots
I can see my enemy
sighting in
the ambush springs
Rifle fire...pistol fire
grenades explode
screams...crying...silence
Job complete
k** is made
body count taken
Young Marine
drinks a beer
smokes a joint
goes to sleep