Lou J. Klaiber

ON THE ROAD TO TAY NINH

An old Bus
burning
dead upon its side.

Cargo strewn lifeless
like garbage bags untied… A Catholic priest stands
trembling;
his faith itself seems tried.

I clutch my offering!
A torn orphan
burnt upon the altar
of a War not satisfied.
Always lusting after innocence
to feed its greed
and pride.

… and the Priest stumbles.
falls weeping amidst the tangled corpses
grasping
in vain of a life
denied.

Two old Monks in silent
saffron
comfort him;
Ecumenically allied!

My dead child bleeds upon my chest
and into my heart.
I weep
tears of truth…
I weep the blood of Christ
upon a child’s corpse.

I prepare my hatred
and go forth
Alone!

Neither the hand of God
nor Mary’s tears
can hold me.

I am a Soldier now
and
Forever… A Soldier now
and
forever!

Author’s Note: Caliber ‘the Angry’ apologizes for posting a poem that was written 17 years ago and caused great criticism. It deals with his hatred of “children as victims”!