Poetry

AP photo

By

Don Krieger

Marching Orders

We retreat with friends, like-minded,

far from the chatter, wicked

like roach bites on our hearts.

Our President, his trusted captains

will show us the way. My golf round,

this year with Steve Scalise,

he will help me keep my seat.

I pray it’s enough. And at night,

Marie, the balcony open,

sheers moving in the breeze.

–

A jolt, Jay fell, Chris died.

Thank God Pat was there for last rites,

that Chris was single, that Mitch, Paul,

the others were safe. Thank God

for the doctors. It’s the pride of my life

to sit with them. Oh God, show us the way.

One person killed when Amtrak train carrying GOP lawmakers to retreat hits garbage truck.

Washington Post, 31 Jan 2018

Audio: http://donslist.net/PGHLookups/Audio/MarchingOrders.wav

Don Krieger

I have built satellites, worked in the operating room, been in a cult, …

I earn my living as part of a group which is trying to understand and treat head injury.

In my poetry and short blog pieces, I want to express ideas with unambiguous clarity and intensity.

I willingly sacrifice rhyme and meter, art, cleverness, elegance, and beauty for these.