CASKETS AT TAN SON NHUT

Rows of silver caskets
glinting in the sun
in the background of a photo
of a soldier with a gun.
An extra-added bonus
in the picture that he sent -
it spiraled me to sadness,
which wasn’t what he meant.
He’s smiling in the photo,
and though it’s black and white,
I’m blinded by the caskets
gleaming in the light.

©Christina
1997