Poem

War Duty

Through the left lashes of the left
corner of the left eye, a flicker: wings.
The right eye, blind in reserve
on the reverse slope of the nose,
reports nothing. The command
center of the brain commands: No
corroboration. Hold fire. No
retreat, no advance, no war, no peace
until it can be stated: "Dove
or avenging angel binocularly seen."

Alan Dugan
Poems Seven
Seven Stories Press, New York