We had stopped by the roadside

just for a break, get some fresh air,

it was good to get out of

those mobile coffins

just to stretch our legs.

 

A bunch of kids

approached us smiling

hands out asking for sweets,

it was good to see smiles,

we don't see that many.

 

As the kids grew bolder, fooling around

some of the younger ones appeared,

little boys and girls, five or six

maybe younger, toddlers,

lots of smiles, lots of chatter.

 

We did not see him,

the guy in the car

he must have stepped up his speed

as he drove towards us.

 

I did not hear a bang

more like a massive shaking of

the ground and air around us,

we had three men down

but the kids, Sweet Jesus the kids.

 

I was screaming like a madman, hatred in my veins

the kids, bits and pieces of the kids

strewn around the bloody ground,

the wounded we tried to treat

but a kid with no legs is hard to save.

 

Screaming Parents, Screaming Marines, Screaming Kids,

body parts, blood and bones and pain,

Lord so much pain,

I could understand him wanting us

but why the kids.

Based on a story in the Independent  of an attack on the USMC in Iraq.