ON PEARL HARBOR DAY

Two vets on a park bench
on today's 75th anniversary
talk to me about their fathers
being in Hawaii
up early
hearing the Japanese jets
crash over "the Arizona"
of Uncle Sam
on that uneasy fateful day
at Pearl Harbor
how they were both in Nam
clenching their jaws
pausing to tell me
they were out of cash
and played the daily lottery
for money
we talked about our memory
at the infamy in war
knowing it only deceives
and leads to a brief victory
then fiery ash.