How The Targeting Officer Justifies - Sally Churgel

[Lawrence Robinson]

How The Targeting Officer Justifies
 
Just see latitude, longitude.
Read the commander’s orders as 
structures without flesh.
See contour lines on the topographic map,
closing in—
whorls on the thumb of the land.
Crosshairs on a screen.
Ignore your heartbeat.
 
Do not see
two hours before—
the hill with the olive grove,
shepherd resting in shade,
mothers packing lavash and paneer,
boys running downhill, throwing pebbles.
Girls skipping.
 
Target.
See only: small building.
Outbuilding.
Designated hostile.
 
Two minutes after.
No.
Do not see
splintered school desks,
splayed bodies—
children,
teachers not much older.
Do not hear parents wailing.
 
Never imagine it’s your child—
a splash of freckles.
Never—
your wail.
Do not let yourself know it.
No, don’t—
when your finger traces the map, 
there—
your hand knows.

	- Sally Churgel
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