ISSUE: Autumn 2000
Out of the north an evil shall break forth
—Jeremiah Chap. 1, v. 14
Cedar tree. Starfish. Beautiful
eyes. Over and over, over
the radio, an almost loving
refrain. Full alert transmitted
on waves and the reserves
pack up, put on hold, leave
the familiar to its own
devices. When threat descends
from the north, no ritual
remains, not fasting, not
feasting. Now terror and resolve
rub shoulders. Small ruptures
of the heart. Some will return
minus limbs. Others
to leave ciphers of blood
writ on volcanic rock.
And the heat. Always
the heat, severe and blinding.
Cedar . . .star . . .beautiful. . .
Infantry. Tanks. Intelligence.
