• Vol. 09
  • Chapter 10
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Sunset Curtains

You on one side
and I the other,
we lined our plastic soldiers,
their shadows stretched on the shag carpet.
We took aim
and toppled them sequentially,
laughing as they fell.
When you were deployed,
I thought of it often,
our innocent cheers
and the sunset in the curtains.

You're back now,
at least that’s what they say.
Shell bursts still ringing in your ears.
I heard you have a family,
parsing details from radio static.
I’m thinking of you often,
is your voice the same?
Do you still cheer when soldiers fall?
Is there a roof above you,
cheap laminate below?
Does the sunset dance on your curtains?

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