Assigned to infantry,
damn trigger finger itching, scratching.
Abruptly: Flashes all around,
white on black,
caught the children among the pews,
their mouths opening wide, wide, wide.  

Absorb the meaning:
The children without any voices,
straining, dragged, found fault with.
Hair, forehead, eyes, thought
might very possibly separate
just because.
Just the time and place,
feet still, lips sealed.    

I got up and left the church,
the Cross,
soldiers.