Sleeping men lie scattered among desert scrub
Wrapped in camo blankets. Their lovers,
in 5.56 and 7.62 millimeters, held close.
It is a time of waiting — that time of morning
when nocturnal animals and spirits
are almost at rest. Yet, we day creatures
remain hushed, hidden, until slapped
by the hot Afghani sun. In the stillness,
I dream of multiple copies of me,
Acting their parts in alternate times and places —
our worlds stacked side-by-side
like an infinite deck of cards.
From their mirrored faces: flashes of gunfire,
Sour fume of adrenaline, and the smell
of copper-mist rising from cooling torn flesh.
The acid of dawn burns skin. Alien worlds
and madness spiral shut. Shadows
cut back-and-forth among Rīgestān dunes,
whisper in Pashtu. Black gunmetal rasps
against gravel and sand. My eyes
snap open, glass-empty.
Dennis Maulsby lives in Ames, Iowa. His poems and short stories have appeared in The North American Review, Mainstreet Rag, The Hawai’i Pacific Review, The Briarcliff Review (Pushcart nomination), and on National Public Radio’s Themes & Variations. His traditionally published books include: “Near Death/Near Life” (poetry—Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) gold medal winner), “Free Fire Zone” (short stories—MWSA Silver medal winner), “Winterset” (short stories—Eric Hoffer Award winner and Global Ebook gold medal winner), “The Fantasy Works” (collection), and “House de Gracie” (novel — Book Excellence Award and Reader Views Silver Medal). Maulsby is an associate member of the SFWA and past president (2012 – 2014) of the Iowa Poetry Association. Check www.dennismaulsby.com for further information.