An Air Force Medic, 
hospital duty in the Philippines
beyond the range of hostile fire, ballistic shards 
from Ho Chi Minh’s determined wrath.
Treat the afflicted and tag the remains.
I was shielded from harm’s way.

Outreach missions to Negrito tribal lands,
descendants of warriors who vanquished invaders.
Their bodies ravaged by parasites, 
tuberculosis, dysentery.  Yet they lived.
Treat the afflicted and tag the remains.
I was shielded from harm’s way.

Restricted to base as Ferdinand Marcos’
campaign thugs terrorized voters, 
stole ballots. Fragile democracy 
in the crosshairs of hired guns.
Treat the afflicted and tag the remains.
I was shielded from harm’s way.

Tectonic indigestion from deep waters 
in the Mindanao Trench launched waves
of vertigo, shock. Planetary thunder
pummeled earth, structures, flesh. 
Treat the afflicted and tag the remains.
I was always in harm’s way.