Sting Ray

It was a field trip to Bodega Bay.
The boys found a dead sting ray,
hauled it out on to the pier.
Examined it for a while.

Turning it over,
I took my knife and
plunged it into the silver-gray back
of the beautiful creature.
The knife went in easily.
Up to the hilt.
I was surprised at how effortless it was
It frightens me
forty years later.

Boys and young men do
foolish things.
Fascinated with guts and
mystery.
Fearful at the same time.

Men at war are the same.

Shoot the kraut, the nips, gooks, rag-heads,
then run your
knife into his neck
or his belly
full-through
and see how easy it is
to the hilt.

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