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Missiles and Land Mines
After the poetry reading
the lights go on and a lady
under a big hat rises
behind dark sunglasses
and asks the poet why
he never writes about sex.
He says for the same reason
he never writes about war.
What more can be said
about missiles in flight
and land mines that need
the right touch to go off.
by Donal Mahoney
Makes Forever Shorter
When a bullet goes in
and doesn’t come out
you read about it
in the paper, hear
about it on TV.
A person takes a bullet
near the heart and learns
a surgeon can't remove it.
It's part of him forever.
Happens like a drive-by
shooting when a loved one
makes a comment no
apology can remove.
The loved one doesn't
know there’s a problem,
doesn’t realize lightning
through the cerebellum
is by far a better option.
Doesn't let the victim linger.
Makes forever shorter.
by Donal Mahoney