Up on a hill
Joseph kept watch
The bend in the river below sunlit
Chromium plated
Polished
A coiled snake between meadows
Murmuring with contoured malcontent
Slowly
Slickly
Slovenly
He wandered the graves with Malice
The Dog of War at heel salivating
Pawing the mud for bones
And feathers
Until
At last light
In February’s awakening
When the snow had settled
And the fighting ceased
The sky filled the ruins below
With wonderment
Upon every shattered casement
Shelled and hulled obituaries gathered
The shadow ghosts
Iridescent souls
Brought together to roost
One last time
Before
Chattering to the heavens
They fled
On morning’s mist
To be seen no more
