Twelve More

Today, January 7
the counter shows 4222
US Deaths in Iraq

on December 22 it was 4210
twelve more in sixteen days

how many civilians
and how many from other countries

how many blinded, lost arms, legs, paralyzed
how many emotionally injured for life
destined to be homeless, alone, invisible

and Afghanistan
what of it

twelve more gone and forgotten by all
except fathers, wives, mothers, children, brothers, sisters

twelve more without an end

tomorrow
who will it be tomorrow