the memorial day parade

The Memorial Day Parade

By Troy Cady

Here

we

are

lined

up

single

file

along

State

Street,

downtown

Chicago.

There is     plenty     of     room    to    stand     on     the     sidewalk.

Shoppers

scurry

and

glance

at a few ROT

                C (see)

divisions,

marching to barks

of left and right

as drumlines rap

in crisp candence,

honoring the deceased.

The

file

(and

rank)

of

spectators

applaud in tepid claps,

as they listen to the standard

fighting songs played,

save Taps.

There is     plenty     of     room     on     the     sidewalk

but maybe not enough for all the wounded ghosts.

Have so many fatalities

deadened our senses?

How have we become deaf to their cries?