The Soldier by Lily Chua and Sentry by Jose Mari Gotera

The Soldier 
Lilia Lopez Chua 

There are still many ways 
the same war all these years
the long arms of pain never leaving him
the enemies rising out from his body
like smoke
calling to a fire no one can stop
his body houses nothing but grief
he is older now
the years of fighting have taught him
how to roll himself into the size of a fist
to make the war his life
but sometimes when no one is watching
he curls up
into a cat
and mourns for having too many lives #


Sentry 
Jose Mari Gotera 

With an M-16 rifle slung 
on your tired  drooping shoulder,
your tense 
asian face 
stares worrying
into the dry
tropical noon

comrade, let us forget
all troubles at home

the glistening sweat
on your wrinkled 
forehead

and who cares about
wasted youth
or deep regrets

we are already deaf

to the sounds
of insects
and bushes
dehydrating
in the heat

and our lonely war
is the sudden
bullet of hunger
and despair

the jungle has unleashed

in a world
that is greened

with too many partings#