Lou J. Klaiber

SEPTEMBER 21, 2001… POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

I stood quite alone in the drizzle, by a monument containing 106 names from the Vietnam War. I saw a few curious walk up and look at the Infantry Cross sculpted upon stone… carved in the shape of the country called South Vietnam. I heard the sounds of traffic! Tires pulling a soft hissing noise into the very emptiness of gray. I gazed at the two flags, wet and motionless upon a quiet staff. Felt like an old dog that stays upon the porch… barking and half blind; Just an old dog with a few good bites to his credit, a poet dog looking for a pen, and dry paper; a dog with only the memory of ‘scent’ and the rush of action. Perhaps my words shall be remembered as a strange kind of barking, that calls to liberty around the world. That would be nice. Damn nice! Dog tired now. Have dog poem almost finished, almost…