Last night, staging Saigon, I fell -
Rucked up the body undercarpet,
Became inured to comrades' cries.
So then I learned the fear of death
And vowed to save all that I can.
Dragged out my friends from those pools
in which they floundered
And, from enemies advancing, ran.
[- written 2002; revised 2016 & 2019]