Death Stalks a Mountain Top

DEATH STALKS A MOUNTAIN

TOP

CHU LAI, SOUTH VIETNAM

1965

Copywrite © 2010 Gordon Kuhn

How foolish unbridled youth can be

when taught not how the world to see



the world in all tastes of color spread

before oncoming darkness dread



and yet the dawn of youth was spent far too

young for us to see

and time crossed the sacred line of age



while in the very act not one became a

learned sage

yet aged far beyond their counted years



and some forgot how to issue forth tears

amidst the spreading flood of rage



and warm blood poured forth upon the

ground

in drops and rivers from brave hearts did



and blood and urine flowed as one

disrespecting soiled us all around



rifle fire opened upon the flank

and raced down towards the river bank



spattered shouts

a grenade took someone’s life out



——transformation——a screaming rage

life turned a bitter and terrible page



and boys became their own fathers then

while fear loosed bowels held tight before

that night



and blood and urine flowed as one

——church wine——careless spilled upon

the ground——disrespecting everyone.