Amphibious Assault

The time has come
Ancient Power

On the horizon, many ships watch and wait
Silhouetted by the soft gray light of dawn

A lone craft moves toward the enemy shoreline
Sole vehicle of the assault
The craft, an amphibious landing type
Has a ramp plate in the bow for the unloading
Of men and equipment onto the beach

At the back, above the level of the ramp plate
Is a large, glass-enclosed structure
With a vermilion fleece rug
And cocktail-lounge furnishings

A party is in progress inside the glass room
The room is a swirl
With heavy, military bodies dancing
Decorated with bright colored ribbons and medals

The stewards dart about
With trays of hors d'oeuvres and champagne cocktails
There is music and laughter

It is a merry party and it continues
As the craft moves forward

Now the craft touches the beach
Pushing a wave before it
The merriment subsides for a moment
And all in the glass room look casually
Toward the ramp plate

The ramp goes down

A single solider clad in combat fatigues
Carrying an infantry pack and rifle
Rushes up over the ramp plate onto the beach

The soldier runs
Very hard
And fast

It is over
Quickly

He is killed by one shot fired by the enemy

The soldier lies crumbled
Face-down on the sand

He is the only blemish
On the smoothness

Slowly, the ramp plate begins to rise
The craft withdraws from the beach

And conversation and laughter
In the glass room
Resumes