Sniper

You took our neighbor
With a bullet through
His helmet
He was 18
He was going to get married
When he got back from Iraq

I just visited his grave
Once it was freshly dug
Soft dirt covered it
Flowers adorned it
Loved ones wept over it
Now, grass covers it

I still think of him
I wonder if you do
When he came into focus
Were you pleased?
Or did you hesitate?
What made you pull the trigger?

Sniper, you hid in your lair
When you shot him
Why don’t you come out of the dark
Now and let the light expose your face?

Stand over his grave
So the sun casts your shadow
Across the grass
Take the spade and start digging
Someday you will be his neighbor