Buck Downs

Soldier's Joy

take the cap off that bottle

                                    and throw it away --

I won't need caps no more

all the fury in my hurting --

all the things I don't know

                        all the living goes so fast

                                    and soon I'll die slow --

                                                hey contrary

                                                            hey yourself

                                                down the middle

                                    & turn the corner

                                                set to cast off

                                    lead up & cross over

                                    & come back home alive,

                                                                        so-called alive --

and the girl I left at camp shelby

she can dance with friendly henry,

                                                sad & sore, sad & sore

                        that grand daughter of dixie

            the world turned inside out

she'll see her young soldier

                                    no more, no more

soldier's joy for a quarter --

all you can drink for a dime --

                        I broke a personal record

                        I did my personal best

                        you know what happened

                                                            to the rest

            I could write it down

            tomorrow tonight

            I can't hold the pen 

Buck Downs is an American poet, publisher, and editor. One of his chapbooks, Another Helping, is available here.