I wasn't really thinking when I joked
"It's a nice town here. Nobody shoots you."
When he just got back from the fires and smoke
of a war I will never go through.
He'd spent nights exposed to the mortar shellls
and days expecting a rocket grenade.
My ghetto's a heaven to his hardened hells
and my lost stereo's no looters raid.
he could have taken offence at my quip,
for I realized my error too late
but instead a bright smile came to his lip
and laughing said, "I know, aint it great!"
Instead of anger at my flippant tone,
I just saw a man so glad to be home.
5/8/04
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