“2nd platoon haiku”

by Michael Nappi

1.
JP-8 burns clear
releasing smells into night:
trash tires plastic shit

2.
bullet hole appears
dangerously near tan boot
Negligent Discharge

3.
Crown Royal handle
peeks out a clean assault pack
facta non verba

4.
the regulations
prohibit mirror lenses—
take them off, Nappi

5.
I’ve spent too much time
and I’ve lost too many friends
to not win this war

6.
quick mouth, small stature;
knocked-down, choked-out, beaten-up—
still smarter than you

7.
stealing from hajis
makes bad juju—then again,
so does making bombs

8.
the lifted truck roars
Newport smoke rises slowly
blood covers hard hands

9.
ruins by the river
crumble into dark Tigris
under blue moonlight

10.
Black Hawks land quickly
heavy air turns to wild wind;
sandstorm advances