Lou J. Klaiber

THE BUDDHA BOYS

I couldn’t sleep
… and morning was foggy,

and I watched ARVN in formation
pulling something from their chest,
… and placing it in their mouth.

“What is that Shit?”

Thi!

“They are putting Buddha close to their heart Cal!
It is very important to us.
They want Buddha next to their heart, should they die.”

Me!

Fuck that… I need Coffee!

Thi!

‘CAL!’ What do you have close to your heart?’

Me!

“My Ass, you silly Bastard, and there ain’t no damn way I am going
to get it into my mouth.”

“I need Coffee and ammo and a way out of here.

Tell Buddha to get off his ass! We gonna rock an’ roll today.”

… and so it went
a long time ago
and very far away.

My apologies to Buddha
and the Lord Jesus

but there is nothing sacred

in War.