LANDMINE
By PAINTED THIN
I MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER DAY
PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK
BUT I CARRY THIS WITH ME STILL:
THE SIGHT OF THE BLOOD IN THE DRAWER OF EVERY RETAIL
WORKER'S TILL
BUT I'VE READ THE BRUISED, BEATEN FACES OF A BURMESE FRIEND,
GANG-RAPED WITH THE CONTENTS OF HER UTERUS BARED.
IT'S NOT A PHOTO LAYOUT THAT I'VE EVER SEEN,
WRAPPED IN THE PAGES OF OF A PEPSI-COLA PROMOTIONAL MAGAZINE
SOME DAYS I CAN DO IT
WALK INTO ANY STORE
AND HAND MY MONEY TO A PEER
IN SOME DEMEANING UNIFORM
IT'S THOSE OMINOUS THREE WORDS THAT STARE BACK AT ME FROM
THE BOTTOM OF A GLASS
AND TAGS THAT TAUNT ME FROM THE BACK OF EVERY PIECE OF
CLOTHING I HAVE
AND THIS SOLDIER WIPING BLOOD FROM HIS SHIRT IN THE BURMESE
SUN LAUGHS
BECAUSE THE COINS THAT I ABANDONED
THEY ARE WEIGHING DOWN THE PANT POCKET
THAT THIS ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP HAS BROUGHT
I MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER DAY
PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK
BUT I CARRY THIS WITH ME STILL:
THE SIGHT OF A BLOOD SOAKED BURMESE SOLDIER
AND THE FULL MALL PARKING LOT THAT'S FUNDING HIM.
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