Cave, Cave, Deus Videt br (Beware, Beware, God Sees Thee) br . br . br . br Crude those canyons br scratched by fear and hate br where hope abandoned br young men to their fate br whose blood erodes br wee rivulets through the trench br as minds implode br from lack of sleep and stench br br From factory and field br the bugles called br to don the sword and shield br pure youth enthralled, br lured by adventure, br travel, coaxed by thrill, br who once indentured br would be dressed to kill br br But soon the merry bands br daydreams were shattered, br where once were farmers lands br the dead lay scattered, br too soon to learn br in war what life is worth, br too soon returned br to meld a hungry earth br br Stay low lest swarms br of bullets sting as bees br or winds transform br the air to gaseous breeze, br two to a match br the snipers site by three, br entrench and catch br the stink of deaths disease br br When yesterdays close mate br to death succumbs br he's instantly dead weight br the friendship numbs, br a trench wall br swiftly serves cadavers tomb, br it must be culled br to stay the noxious fumes br br At times the dead limbs br prod out from the sod br and though it's grim br in war not much is odd, br one stiff for days br was offering a hand, br who passed its way br for luck shook it deadpanned br br In war deaths place br as sole halcyon midwife br bears each corpse its space br not known in life, br youth called brave br by tribalistic cultures br in epilogues o'er graves br by chieftain vultures br br War's an old mans game br the young mere chattel br whose purity's inflamed br and aimed towards battle, br our history won't soften br into calm, br our nails aren't just for coffins br but for palmsbr br Richard S.