Carrion

"War is hell."
William Tecumseh Sherman

The war smelled like mustard gas on our meat
which tastes like carrion in no man's land
while in the trenches we waited in line
for Anastasie of the Mud Stained Knees

when Bainsworth was blown to kingdom come, Christ!
and half of us pulled him from no man's land,
but the leftenant said leave her behind
because she bloody well foul mouthed the Krauts.

"The HQ trench has a typewriter, Son.
Something nice for the missus.

Carry on."