Energy Drinks

Red Bull, Rock Star, Double Shot, Amp
(I saw a man killed by a flying body part):

how I wish they had made them
when I was in the army (a leg

smoldering in its boot) and stood watch
over a sleeping platoon...except that I sat,

my back against a banyan tree,
observing nothing (his eyes lightly shut,

hair on fire) but the backs of my eyelids--
not that there was anything much

I could have done but (had he dreamed
the one-time dream of dying?) scream

"Incoming!" and at least seen him
come awake before....I would have

gladly accepted the extra burden
of an Alice pack full of them,

not to be lying here tonight: an addict
with eyes that refuse to close.

copyright 2003 Pete Lee