A War Poem of Thanks: 'Grace, Ready-to-Eat'

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO by Sr. Airman Cameron Currie

This poem first appeared in the online literary journal "Ash & Bones" on April 15, 2015. It also appears in the newly released collection "Welcome to FOB Haiku: War Poems from Inside the Wire" by Randy Brown and Charlie Sherpa. Buy it today for $9.99 print or $5.99 e-book. For more information, visit: www.fobhaiku.com

Be safe this (U.S.) Thanksgiving holiday! Be warm. Be responsible. Be kind to others. And "Attack!"

*****

GRACE, READY-TO-EAT

Give us this day, some shelf-stable bread,

and potable water enough to drink

and to activate the chemical heater.

And maybe a “rock or something” on which
to lean the steaming mess, entrée and all,
as depicted and described in this diagram.

Forgive us our trespasses,
for we have trespassed a lot today—
kinda goes with the territory, and the job.

And deliver us from evil,
particularly that which we have done
unto others. See also: “trespasses,” above.

For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory.

And ours is 1,200 calories of brown-bag easy living.
"Every day is a holiday. Every day is a feast."
Just go easy on the crackers. And don’t eat the Charms.

Because those are bad luck.

Amen.

*****

Notes: A "Meal, Ready-to-Eat" (M.R.E.) is a high-calorie field ration developed and used by the U.S. military. The inclusion of "Charms"-brand hard candies in some MRE meals was discontinued in 2007.