War Memorial 070717

every soldier’s face
is exactly
the same face

he is young
he’s blond
he stands straight
in a uniform
that fits him well

sometimes
he is navy

he looks to be
an Australian

perhaps it’s his slouch hat
perhaps the way
the cap is perched

the chiseled features
of his face

he is
a serious young man
gazing at the future
of the world
somewhere
just off to one side
of the camera

he is smoking
a cigarette
with his mates

he is the statue
of himself
placed back to back
on guard sleeves down
on guard
sleeves up

and he is gone now

and he is here
he is always
still
right here

---

© Frank Prem, 2017

July 2017 Poem #14: veil dance (oh no)