1.

PLEA
By Maggie Kelly

Tell me
tell me    please
who is it that is not listening
did not whisper
into the ear of God?
did not say that a 15-month
deployment is far too long?
Who did not say that
Santos, Salinas
Rojas-Gallegos
should not have left
between the three of them
eleven children to be raised
by madres y tias?
Who said it was okay to lose
their laughter
their caring for others
their dreams?
Who said it was okay for
them to still be in Iraq
because a four-month extension
had been attached to their orders.
The former Marine—
he had 10 medals.
The 29-year-old—
he was the 29th son
of San Antonio killed in this war.
The youngest—
he was the family clown
a dancer who wanted to travel.
Who is not listening as we are told:
As of Monday,    Aug. 6,    2007,
3,674 U.S. military personnel
have died in the Iraq war.

        —8/7/07