I never imagined the bodies of
Dead Marines; the blood and dirt
Carefully wiped away, the wounds
Cleaned, sutured, before they were
Placed in caskets and escorted
For burial in Texas, Vermont, Missouri.
I never considered lying lifeless
In a casket, in Dress Blues,
A flag presented to my mother.
—Michael Miller
Published in the 2013-01-11 issue: View Contents