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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN# / ISBN# issue/book “i am not alone” Down in the Dirt, v182 (the April 2021 Issue) Order the paperback book:

Order this writing that appears in the one-of-a-kind anthology Excerpts from the Plague Years the Down in the Dirt Jan.-April 2021 issues collection book		get the 420 page Jan.-April 2021 Down in the Dirt 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

Aftershock

Michael Cardwell

Barked a shot at the
insurgent standing behind the berm
see his head snap back
from the impact, as dust
kicks up beside my leg,
another man is shooting back
at me, I adjust my
aim scan left and right
and find the muzzle flash, expel
my breathing, steady aim and
squeeze the trigger tight and
watch a blossom of red
appear in the throat of
this second man and watch
him crumble down, it’s quiet
now all targets down and
our post is secure, another
day a few more deaths
in the valleys of Afghanistan

Back home again but nights
are plagued by the deaths
that I have caused, the
things I did I live
each night in fretful tossing
dreams, the triggers squeezed the
bullets sent downrange to steal
life, it seems to me
that living with the taking of
a life is harder than the kill

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