Poem
Poem
Poem
Prose
Prose
Poem
BUT
By James Reihel, Army
Writing Type: Poem
I never killed a man
but I went to school
and learned
how we must fight
to protect our friends and allies.
I never killed a man
but I enlisted
because God knows we're right
and I'd be called up anyhow.
I never killed a man
but I took my place
in Vietnam
with so many others
who never killed.
I never killed a man
but I aimed and squeezed off rounds
at countless forms
we knew as the ene.my.
I never killed a man
but my body shakes
and I wake up remembering
how much the enemy
looked like a man.
