fifteen ramadan’s
measured
cadre ouma’s life when
four hours
almost claimed it
fierce gun battle
between militant villagers
and armed oppressors;
bloody skirmish, hand grenade;
spear broken beyond repair
blinded
by shrapnel,
young back
pierced and
ripped by bullets
barely alive with chest
shredded, ouma’s request
to be killed was rejected;
nursed back to health
only to be taken, shackled,
sensory-deprived, to where
no man, woman
or child
could ever feel
human again
incarcerated and tortured
war crimes tribunal
label: murderer and terrorist
apology rejected
child soldier learned too late
the nature of war is death
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