george hunneycutt

left my baby at the dmz


I can't help but think
of the time
we must have been
only 17
and the hangul had
barley passed our lips
before we kissed
in the shadow of the
royal palace
on that busy street
in seoul
briefly, because
I was a prince
and even in my clever
disguise
I feared the spying eyes
of pigeons and roof-top scouts
It seems like yesterday,
but now, we're here
3 months later
and you've betrayed me
with your velvet lies,
stole state secrets
like they were plums
so now I must leave you
here
chained to the fence
as an example to the others
who would betray me
i have to leave you, baby,
at the DMZ