Sunday, May 18, 2008 — Ramp Ceremony
o M.,
last night I saw you hold your man’s beret, walk in front. slow left slow right. towards the yawning Hercules. you golden and lined under sodium light.
I watched the five seconds of ramp ceremony on t.v. last night. between Canadian Tire and Tide extra clean. just before Canadian Idol.
number 88.
I remember number 1. his name, his photo, his family all over the pages, the airwaves for days. Canada arguing/oblivious/hostile to you, your men. getting your hands filthy over there.
(tell me, M., are ramp ceremonies always at night?)
then I saw J. pall bearing. slow. terrible casket two-step. the red leaf flat, draping your dead man home.
S
Welcome to MayDay
MayDay is a series of letters in prose, poem, txt, email, of a young woman to her infantryman lover serving in Afghanistan.