Desert was Jungle

The stories begin to break ranks
moral high glory cracks leaking
undoctored images
the withered and wracked
returning home boxed
secretly.
memos lie
before each colonel
order of protocol
for their lossesno cameras ever
never use the word quagmire
always show the brave face.
later over drinks and a cigar
truth returns like heartburn
here we go againjust like before
when the desert was jungle.