Roadside explosion

Roadside explosion

the kick of the foetus
brought her to her feet
a dark silhouette against
the desert.

the gathering ball of
dust
of the fleeing jeep
took him away
from the lust of war.

face to face
she stared at him
a nightmare from her dreams
his scared staring eyes
jaded from the screams
of constant mortar fire.

across the haze of
mutual hate and suspicion,
her pain and shame,
the soldier
mid-wifed the newborn
of the rejected bride.