Desert moon

Desert moon

Irak  2003

Under the desert moon, in another time,
my great little traveler of a war
that keeps the night from dawn—
she inhabits the stars of her remote land.

Awake in watch over the infernal sand
of unfriendly dessert— remote open plain
of menacing dunes, where in lonely anguish
the human heart defies weaknesses and pain,

her voice arrives promptly, sweet and loose,
ahead of us, tender, youthful, without complaint,
just the hope of a safe return

to her friendly native place to enjoy again
the quiet dreams of her early age,
the sweet dream of homecoming gained.