A veteran reflects
Then as now
skin remembers what our fathers felt.
Regrets slump cold and leathery as morning boots
or the battle stallion splayed resonant in death.
We're all whores under the same sun.
Ask any Trojan all enemies are as Greeks
helmeted pricks plunged deep in heresies
heated and damp as wounds inflicted by retreat
or towers toppled by men who the city taken
swords sheathed withdraw spent but satisfied
until once more roused to breach new fronts
spout victory's paean