IN THE HASTE OF BATTLE poem

In the Haste of Battle

Did you notice
Kadogo warrior-child
of the Hema tribe
your blood is the same as
that Lendu victim?

Look at his red colour
and tanned face
diminished
from your smoking AK-47

see his body’s last twitch
needful of rest
choking on spasms of
dying breath.

You’re just a boy from the
streets attired in jungle green
proud momma sharing in
the anger of tribal revenge.

Is your victim he whom you
claim killed an uncle
brother
among your Congo family?

Will you now turn your
weapon on United Nation
peacekeepers?

And will your appetite for
blood be whetted
in wars to come—Sudan?
Zimbabwe? Eritrea? until
you too lay dying on a lonely
jungle trail crying: Momma.

© 2009 Richard L. Provencher
All Rights Reserved