1.
it cannot be
thinner
thinner
laughter grows
though
I know
what’s
better
better
is not to know
how
the existence crawls
to awake
the snow
after bullets
flashed
all through
air and flesh
and the sun
in harness
dies
in soldier’s
eyes
better
not to try
seize
that frigid sky
just
to ease
the pain
2.
damn
I see
the dam
hard
as cheek
when slapped
backs
are strained
and veins
not a single step
left
or right
to back
we can make
or fake
standing
face to face
on the edge
outraised
where blood is
stanched
wounds
refill ichor
when
we ask the sky
for some land
no more
we’re
speechless cranes
in descending South
rivers
without mouth
wisdom
lost in love
all we have
is down
barely shoveled rest
all we need
a word
warm enough
to nest
3.
this front
didn’t rip
the general stripes
it stayed
where it was
with a slight compromise
all plans
on the maps
beaded mostly
in trenches
the rosary gaps
were full of adventures
with some body parts
beyond comprehension
in black holes
the craters
in dying dimensions
outlasted
hurray
laid down
and subsided
we did
what we did
it can’t be
divided
the baptism of fire
the hell-way
through raving
souls’ opium
bodies
were dumped
in mass grave and
the war
wanted more
fresh
blood
as bloomed roses
who knows
where God is
is breathless
who knows this
the rear
was feeding
with cursing
the radio-wire
was loading
the orders
no one could admire
we tested
this moonshine
with honor and mettle
while someone
was pointing the barrel
for battles
strait to our necks
our backs
and intentions
this one
from behind
had all rights
but no sanctions
4.
how can we
survive
this dead-end
and tide
the time is
so low
and price
way too high
we won’t
satisfy
the words
and an action
erase the reaction
stay clear
when flushness is near
it’s easier
to die
than step back
and try
to catch one more sun
and cool chatting guns
the measureless fear
may call many byers
the frankness is here
as well as crossfires
and written
in pain
forgotten
unknown
the heroes remain
in ditches
in frowns
and what they’ll become
will cure angry pass
the meaning of home
and sky in the grass
August 20, 2013