Secure the ground call it princess
ready a nest
for the hovering bird a lull in the fighting
spread the word

Two bundles are thrown
to the sodden earth
each shroud
a poncho caked with blood and dirt
from the ground
where they lay and fought
till the reaper reached out

Are they ours
or theirs
Friend or Foe?
look
Afro hair
a negroid face
not ours
not theirs
but them

Does the reaper
choose
black
white
or
grey?

All is still
each noisily sweats
except for the two
who do not draw a breath

A sound
then a roar
a second green bird
comes to rest
on the sodden princess

A bundle of bags drop
the undertakers alight
a joke
a grin
here we are
let the play begin

This is the age of the package deal
we have Zip-Ups
custom made
seven by four
Man oh man it's a clean clean war

A giant bird lands
its tail flops down
tumbling
stiff bundles of dead
onto the ground
the lap of a weeping princess

The curtain rises
let the play begin
to the audience
a circle green*
who sit
and watch
not the actors
with their puppets still
but for the reaper
look! be careful
he may score a kill
a metal tag
it spells a name
labelled from the womb
en route to the tomb?

Strings are pulled
puppets dance
pockets shake open
treasures drop
a letter
a biscuit a forgotten flip-can top

An I is dotted
a T is crossed
are there two N's in unknown?
No tag
No head
Oh joy for the day
when head transplants will be
an act in the play

The finale is near
costumes are changed
each puppet shrouded
with a new coat of
green waterproof twill
with a zip and label
that spells out 'why kill?'
The puppets are loaded
the curtain comes down
applause?
encore?
who cares?
The sleeping princess
a cross on a map
a paddy field bare
nobody knows
except those who were there

* The sentries securing the fringes of the landing zone.