tourist in hell

I am the photographer of the under-surface
with my X-ray camera
taking pictures of the dying,
of half-day soldiers playing the guitar

I am the shirt-clad observer
social theorists and warring parties both
avoid, for fear of having
their soul stolen

but the soldier grins
round his cigarette, knowing his soul
is gone already ~ gone crying into me ~
mine into him



© 1990 by Beth Stevens



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