Sunset Cigar was published in Literary Juice.
Like a slow burning fuse to a well armed sleep bomb
I mark the end of another day alive
Solitary peace breaks the disfigured symmetry of insurgency
And personal holy incense wafts up from my corner of babylon
I pause and reflect into future veteran mirrors of awe
amazed at what I’ve seen and been asked to do
I quietly apologize for my own brand of torture
I secretly dissect my mission and mandate
If I pause too long
my mind drifts to the place I came from
Purple mountain majesties of home and love
yearning for foods gone by and trifels of non-war neighborhoods
So I don’t
I just quietly puff and stare
and hope I make it to another
sunset cigar