The Class Clown

I remember his happy face

the first day of school

So much energy bundled

into his little body

He exploded with laughter and talking

He could not sit still

and could talk his way out of trouble

with a twinkle in his eye

I watched him grow up

and would always laugh

at his antics

Glad he was in some

other teacher’s class

I was too much of a softy

and found him hard to reprimand

Senior year came

He came by to visit

"I’m enlisting."

He said excitedly

A knife went through my heart

I smiled as he told me

how he was going to be serious now

and earn some respect

I hugged him when he left

bursting with pride in his new uniform

He hated Iraq

He hated the dry desert

and longed for the green valley he left

He was afraid to make close friends

knowing they could

be blown up in a second

Everyone was tired and jittery

shooting their guns

at any phantom noise

These people hate us here

he would email

begging for news of the Valley

He found a stray dog

Company Dog

they called him

but this was his dog

other soldiers were jealous

when it slept with him

One soldier complained

constantly about the yapping

and then one day

coming home from maneuvers

The soldier laughed and shot the pup

I just want to come home

He wrote

I want to forget this place

This war

my dog

He came home today

A flag draped his coffin.