Ode to Stallone

i was reading
the bell jar
in the hall
of bravo company's
barracks
guarding
the floor
i was the first
one some sergeant
found after someone
failed to show up
for duty

i sat there
for hours
finished the book
looked out
a window
and prayed
for rain
in the morning

eventually
i was relieved
so i walked
into the woods
smoked a joint
and saw rambo
at the jam-packed
post theater

(every time rambo
killed somebody
the theater exploded
like our high school
football team
scored a touchdown
in the state championship game)

it’s surreal now
looking back

first blood at
fort benning