“We Will Remember Them”
Another soldier’s face comes on the screen
As meaningless as if the box were blank
Or as a hardcore pornographic scene
With yet another coupling, clank, clank, clank.
They give his name and we think, “Well, so what?”
As unconcerned as cows grazing a hill.
They name his rank, town and regiment, but
We finish making breakfast tea and swill
It down. We don’t exactly say, ‘Ho hum,’
Yet might as well. We won’t recall his eyes
Tomorrow. If we think about his mum,
The twinge does nothing to our heartbeat’s size.
The regiment, his mother, name and face
All go to some … blank … memoryless space.
