Circumstances of War

That's how Haggard lost his toes
on a midnight bench in mid October,
the day before of balmy weather
storm blew down from Canada.
Into the park the blizzard flew where the beautiful fountains leap in spring,
on the edge of Sweet Auburn, where Martin Luther King Jr. is entombed.

Assassins mashed both fellows, Haggard and King.
King for being black, Haggard because a vagrant took his shoes
while Haggard snored neath falling snow blanketing on him in the park;
King Preacher of civil rights; Haggard sergeant first class in Korea.
Later in Viet Nam; the trooper got a taste of Agent Orange.
King, beaten dizzy by burly cops; Haggard, grenade shards in his back.

The poor wifeless Haggard,
homeless, hapless Haggard,
Toe-less sergeant first class.
Whoever experiences combat,
to  some degree we become like him.
Conditions of war.