Clayton Beauchamp turned seventy today,
But still wears beret,
And cammies,
With tropical lightning patch,
On special occasions—
Like Veterans Day
And Memorial Day
When tears come easy now
Even when the high school band
Plays the National Anthem
At football games
With his right hand
Over his heart
And Old Glory swimming
In his eyes.
Half a life ago,
He took names
In the Nam
Amid splash of AK rounds
And RPG blossoms.
He still takes names—
Rubbings
From polished black stone.
Clayton Beauchamp turned seventy today,
But he still remembers.
Grey Sparrow Journal 