Poem by Russell Streur

NEWS RELEASE
Title:		STRYKER BRIGADE SOLDIER DIES IN SHOOTING
Release Date:		3/23/2004
Release Number:
04-03-19C
Description:

MOSUL, Iraq – A soldier from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, died from a non-combat related shooting here yesterday.The incident is under investigation. The name of the Soldier is withheld pending notification of next of kin.

EXIT STRATEGY/SUICIDE OF AN AMERICAN PFC

Gung ho

Flag and anthem

Through the flames

Army of one

 

Shoot first

Ask questions later

Then the bayonet

                   he said

 

Blood the desert takes the sand will not return

 

No exit from the RPG

No exit from the mortar round

No exit from the roadside bomb

No exit from the helicopter crash

 

No way home to Eagle Pass

No way home to Santa Fe

No way home to Baton Rouge

No way home to Seven Hills

 

Blood the desert takes the sand will not replace

 

No way out of Umm Qasr

No way out of Tall Afar

No way off Haditha Dam

No way out of Balad Ruz

 

No exit from the sniper scope

No exit from the mosque

No exit from the green canal

No exit from the body bag

 

Blood the desert takes the sand will not release

 

And looking down the pistol barrel

Saw St. Barbara

Clothed in swallows and veil

Waiting at the gate across the river with welcoming arms

Kept his eyes on her

And pulled the trigger.

Atlanta GA Nov 13, 2006

BIO

Russell Streur is a born-again dissident residing in Johns Creek, Georgia.  He was hit over the head with a baseball bat swung by an insistent muse from Crete in May of 2004 and has been just fine ever since.  His poetry and photography have been most recently published in Amaranthine Muses, Boyslut, Dead Snakes, Indigo Rising Magazine, The Literary Burlesque, Meat Heads and Muscle Cars, Occupy Poetry Project, Our Day’s Encounter, Project Agent Orange Poetry Blog, The Rainbow Rose, Raven Images and The Sinner’s Almanac.  He operates The Camel Saloon, an on-line speakeasy catering to dromedaries, malcontents and jewels of the world at http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/ where the beer is cold, the whiskey Irish, and the door is always open.

Streur is author of the book The Muse of Many Names.

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