gmf@uvacs.UUCP (05/13/84)
How The Battle Begins
On October's day in the year unknown
The soldiers without name are standing,
Waiting, afraid before the cave, the gate,
The red screw of morning, the livid dawn.
"Be fast," the Captain whispers, "when the
bugle sounds the reveille. We will
undertake the enemy, rapist of our pay,
usurper of the bells, anomalies."
"The Captain," says Private Sticking, looking
sidelong at his watch, "is an ass. I wish I
were with Giants, or artful Dodgers.
What self-consuming program made us this?"
"Quiet, men," the Captain hisses, " I see
the sweat of perfidy shining brazen
in my crosshairs. Forward, you bastards.
Do you want to fibrillate forever?"
And the Captain bares his weapon and his cross
And is translated to a moist powder
Whose spray is not lost on Private Sticking
Who nevertheless cries, "Shit!" and fires.
Gordon Fisher