The Epaulets
Forty years in the service.
Arm Forces, black book
of protocol strong, unbending
stiff like his back which because of
his endlessly life-long upright
unyielding, unswerving posture
became incapable of softness
he duly abode to army orders passed
down to his lower officers,
foot soldiers, the infantry
who always carried the weight
of each command and the general
stands before his mirror to reflect on
exercises, nightly duty at the front
line of fire, a general only can order
and stand upright to observe results of
orders: attack, charge, shoot,
kill, avenge, exhume hatred, maim
exhausted innocent civilians
hatred he felt and now as
he stares at his idol feeling
the most despicable hatred
for the general who knows how
to give orders how to massacre
human dignity, general hiding
his ballooned superiority behind colours
of flag or insignia, shining epaulets
stitched on his shoulders
he wondered how many dead soldiers
represented each and everyone
of his medals, general who
followed a path chosen
by his predecessors, he too obeyed
a rule others put together, he too
led the prearranged life someone
orchestrated for this proud general
who never dared write his own page
in the black book of military rules.
Manolis Aligizakis 