On a black horizon starshells flaring,
nightmare of shelling, shreiking, roaring,
leaving him cringing, raving, swearing ~

followed by days in dugout, staring
at nothing at all ~ at endless pouring
rain, lying in slime, past caring ~

or furloughs full of drinking, whoring,
flying from all that he is fearing,
ending stuporous and snoring ~

until he awakens, sick with jarring,
in back of truck, without a bearing,
disoriented, vaguely hearing

distant thunder ~ The end is nearing,
back in trench with mates, restoring
the old fraternal order, comparing

outlandish lies ~ a sudden searing
midnight barrage ~ they are torn, tearing,
at throats, frantic, gagging on chlorine.