There is an American flag whipping
in the wind above them

They rarely see it
they are shut in
many cannot walk
others are blind

They spend many hours in bed
alone, un-cared for

They are the mangled
the helpless

They play cards
watch television
but mostly they wait

Most wars are little more than
footnotes to history
obscure conflicts with obscure reasons
started by quiet men in quiet rooms
carefully and methodically

And when the bodies are beautiful
the patriots cheer
But when those bodies get mangled
the patriots are no where to be found


Because when the body gets mangled
it is ugly
and does not fit into the American
ideal
of
health
youth
and vigor