Matt Borczon writes

Military town

the air
smells of
diesel and

coal dust

just off

the highway

and even

at rush hour

this town

feels empty

as I

cross the

road looking

for a meal

and anyplace

less lonely

on a military

weekend

away from home

some days

I hate

this uniform

it reminds me

of how

far away

my family

and I

are from

who I

used to

be back

before the

war stole

my optimism

my energy

my faith

most of

my kindness

all of myself

and left me

full of

nightmares

and the smell

of blood I

still can’t

wash off

left me

here or

home or

anywhere

alone or

in formation

standing  like

a ghost in

service dress

blues.

Tall Soldiers -- Kazuya Akimoto