At War . . . 
Vietnam - Rice Paddies
rice paddies –
no unshod feet
dimple the water
rice paddies ~
streets full of
orphans, beggars and whores
rice paddies –
old women and children
planting a new crop
rice paddies –
new crop appears
sharp, filth covered
rice paddies –
no green shoots
dance to the choppers' tune
rice paddies –
human excrement
saturating salty, old utilities.
rice paddies –
fear of a bountiful crop
of black pajamas and ak47s
rice paddies ~
musings of frogs and birds
then chaos and hell
rice paddies –
no bulging burlap bags,
just slippery black ones
rice paddies –
a new crop
cut down in its prime.
gb
US Marine Corps