Auggie Comes Home from Vietnam

He was my Brother’s friend.

I knew him.

He was drafted into,

Hell on Earth.

Always tough,

he was dirt poor.

White Trash got drafted first,

(after black boys)

The Hawes were

White Trash.

Auggie was a tough motherfucker.

You did not mess with Auggie.

The Vietcong,

they did mess with Auggie.

He collected trophies.

He was a tunnel rat.

He died in Vietnam

but,

still,

he came home.

Vacant,

He cleaned his house,

nude,

Wearing his jump boots only.

He made coffee at 3 in the morning.

He slept with his .45

He took his .45 everywhere.

Auggie was a good man,

Once,

he was a boy.

God,

what did we do to our boys ?