Don’t |

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Don’t

by Dennis Underwood

Don’t move! Be quiet! DON’T MOVE!!
The VC are out there, somewhere. Maybe.
I itch all over from heat and sweat and mud.
God! Don’t let Oliveria start coughing,
Or Brooks blow his damn nose.

“Charlie” is out there, but maybe not.
I haven’t heard a sound that wasn’t jungle.
Bugs are crawling all over me,
I hate bugs. I hate the stench
I hate the damn VC for being here.

Don’t twitch.
Don’t make a sound.
Move and maybe die. Maybe.
I hate the maybe most.
So I lie here unmoving.
Let the “Fuck You” lizards in the trees
Say it all for me.