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Friday, December 07, 2007

CALLING THE WRONG NUMBER

H.L.

"120 War Vets Commit Suicide Each Week"
--Penny Coleman, AlterNet. Posted November 26, 2007.

It is only a number
17
one less than legal
safe to be ignored
one day at a time
17+17+17+17+17+17+17

about 120 in round figures
deaths
per week
those poor vets
who didn't
die
heroes

Don't count for much
until reality
comes calling
for the coalition
the VA
has
willingly forgotten

those poor boys
whose SUVs
(S for suicide
U for undertakers
V for vehicle)
drive slowly
down the dark alley of war

for what?