anymore
3 July 1863

the heat of July in southern Pennsylvania

it’s hotter now
these days
but a hundred fifty years ago and more
then
inside uniforms bearing
supplies and heavy guns
and
two days fighting even
to serve on the winning side and then a final
charge
to determine victory
then the march on Harrisburg
to end the war

and
the cannons fired too soon if like the rebel yell
but
too early over the field
then following orders though the noise
had cleared
the damage done with time
to reassemble
the smoke gone and

regardless
came the charge

over a flat place with little cover
and
stopping wasn’t ordered
anyway

and the soldiers
with their leaders were
cur
down
Hood shot down and
only some made it
to the stone wall of the enemy
and
were killed
there

and Lee called up Pickett to sort his army
for more fighting
to which
Picket proclaims with anger in his blood
and grief for loss
to Lee that there was no army of his leading
anymore that
day

the charges lay on the field
free in the worst way
from
any earthly order
anymore

clc


photo by Johnny Kaufman on Unsplash
“Roadside Sunset”
Gettysburg, PA, USA