MY WAR DREAMS

Once in a while
I have Vietnam War dreams
That aren't about typing and filing.
I had one the other night,
And I awoke shaken,
Still wet from the rice paddy
I'd never waded,
Still scared from AK 47 fire
I'd never heard,
Still sickened by the blood
Of the dead buddies
I'd never known.
It took me awhile
To figure out that I was safe
In my big house
In Maple Valley
Protected by my big mean dogs
And threatened only
By the images
Of war movies
I showed my class by day--
Images that came back
In the night to get me.
I'd give up watching war movies
If I thought
That would help me sleep
Through each night.

[written 6 Oct 1995]