The Haste of Battle

By Richard L. Provencher

Sat, 30 Apr 2011

Did you notice
Kadogo warrior child
of the Hema tribe
your blood is the same as

that Lendu victim?
Look at his red colour
and tanned face
diminished

from your smoking AK-47.
See his body’s last twitch
needful of rest
choking on spasms of

dying breath--
You’re just a boy from the
streets attired in jungle green
proud momma sharing in

the anger of tribal revenge.
Is your victim he whom you
claim killed an uncle

among your Congo family?
Will you now turn your
weapon on United Nation

peacekeepers?
And will your appetite for
blood be whetted
in wars to come—Sudan?

Zimbabwe? Eritrea?
until you too lay on a lonely
jungle trail crying: Momma.