Bombs rained down

followed by pamphlets

urging families to flee


Then we came

ten thousand of us

clustered on the outskirts


surrounding the desert city

its tan buildings clustered

all holding a mystery


We knew what was next

an endless sea of doors

untold carnage


Behind each one

a potential family

a potential threat


we lined up

next to each door

next to each other


This is how it was

each portal of the unknown

earning its own mule kick


we flooded the rooms

one by one

clearing each building


Never knowing

what was in them

praying for nothing


hoping for emptiness

Every person here now

a threat


I knew our luck would cease

eventually a kick

followed by shots


only three more

three more doors

then the day ends


It was bound to end

I kicked the door

my point man rushes in


just to be blown back

Ears ringing

covered in blood


It's not mine.

Thank God it's not mine

who's then?


The fog of war clears

I feel the percussion of shots

I feel the slickness of the blood


I see the grenades

I feel them explode

I'm in the room next


There is nothing left

everything in pieces

not an ounce of life


There never was life

the surprise left for us

was one with no heartbeat


My best friend

with no heartbeat

in pieces out on the street


We wrap him up

along with the day

only to begin again tomorrow


An endless sea of doors

in an ocean of violence