The Summer of 2016 - poem

Lawrence Hall
Mhall46184@aol.com

The Summer of 2016


1969

In Viet-Nam you looked around
For even a stem of grass astray
You watched the water; you watched the ground
Upriver along the Vam Co Tay

1970

Safe home, the earth did not explode
There was no need to pause your breath
And hope they hadn’t mined the road
With stakes or bombs of gutting death

No cause to bring your piece to bear
On creeping shadows among the trees
Or a curious movement over there
Upon the sweet, leaf-singing breeze

2016

Except that now there is – O dreams
Lost and desolate among death-screams