Posted tagged ‘Friday Flash 55’

Veteran’s Day – Flash 55 (“Enlisted”)

November 11, 2011

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Thinking of Veteran’s Day today.  This is also a post for Friday Flash 55.  (Tell it to the G-Man.)

Enlisted

What they carry–
the risk of not coming back,
or coming back different;

of being killed,
maimed;
killing, maiming;
coming back
different;

love/hate.
not-necessarily-hate/gun/mission,
training/sweetness/
us.

Somebody’s got to do it.

The risk of coming back
some body.

Know somebody now
joined up.
May he stay
joined,
up,
himself.

PS – I’ve slightly edited the poem since first posting this morning.  (Almost all the poems I post are drafts, so changes are needed.)  Kept to the 55 words though!

 

PPS – I wanted to fit a little more love into the poem, but have been a bit constrained by the 55 word limit.  I do want to take this opportunity to send love, thanks and blessings to all veterans on this day and every day.

 

Friday Flash 55 – 99 Percent at Downtown NYC Subway Station

November 4, 2011

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Varying Percentages At Fulton Street Station

Yesterday, cop at the subway by Occupy Wall Street dressed as a hippie.  Today, the guy wears plain clothes; i.e. his uniform.

He got two occupiers though, fare-skippers, thoughtful faces hangdog now, betrayed; victory in his stance, scribbling–as he mumbles ‘sorry’–tickets.

Just behind, tourist wedges around the turnstile, card outspent, confused, unseen.

I am telling this 55 word story (minus) title to the G-Man, also to Occupy Wall Streeters who get on the train at the Fulton Street Station, usually with metro cards, but sometimes perhaps without.  The station looks abandoned at the bottom entrance;  it isn’t.