For Friends (killed in Vietnam)
…who died so uncomfortably close to the earth:
…who died so uncomfortably close to the earth:
it is now I must swallow endless questions,
it is now I must swallow endless questions,
reflex this anger,
reflex this anger,
as today I am sure
as today I am sure
the idiot winds will never choose to whisper
the idiot winds will never choose to whisper
those tragically human voices,
those tragically human voices,
ever again
ever again
11/24/69
Paterson