From the trenches he heard the blast br of bombs booming in the near distance, br saw the heavy clump of black smoke br twisting like a tornado; br and thought of life back home: br a wife and kids full of love and concern. br br It was once the picture of the perfect life- br the dog bathed on Sunday mornings, br the pop-corned ice cream visits to the park br by evening. But now, as he huddled there br under the raised mount of protection, br he looks around at the new family: br hard-faced men dressed br in heavily-clad war drab, br holding cold, hard metal, firing; br ready to die yet hoping, remembering br the family they left back home.