POPPING YELLOW SMOKE

I found some photos earlier today

some so stark as to take the breath away ~

I try to see beyond the surface to the eyes

what was he thinking; he

 couldn't realize

that a middle aged woman, the mother of a son,

would someday wonder at the damage that was done

to the earth and all the inhabitants therein,

Who was the soldier? Did he go home again?

I found this photo among the rest,

one of our country's finest and best ~

his eyes looking directly into mine,

for just a brief moment caught in time.

Young men caught in the light of day;

outside the city by the name of Hue.

Their lives turn like a wheel

and broken spoke

they have made the decision:

Pop the yellow smoke.

Ó Christina 4-04