Let Them Eat Cake

Crazy Dan, Vietnam Vet, lurks
near Wall Street, eyeballs the tents,
the angry folk shouting.

His head whirs.

The war protesters have found him.
Found him after years curled 
in cartons or on well-hidden park benches-
only an occasional night dared
at the Salvation Army.

His reconnaissance skills are fading.

But no--a woman looks at him kindly,
sticks an Occupy sign into his hand,
leads him out to the street.

They're taking the hill,
he realizes.

Young again, dead buddies
by his side, he charges.
He winds through orange mist,
vines; he'll come back a hero
this time. Surely his country
will love him.

His heart pounds victory until 
darkness descends with the thud
of a billy club and the glimpse 
of one champagne glass tossed
by gods in pin-stripes
watching.




Pris Campbell
(c)2011

Art: Vietnam Scene. Sculpture by Duane Hanson 1969

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