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The bomber taxied along the runway

as the pilot explained to me my job.

Simple, he said, look through the peep,

press the button; bingo.

I looked dubiously and nodded

as he yanked back on the yoke

catapulting us into the heavens

and banking hard to port.

An hour, then two, guts vibrating

as we flew to the target area

my lips were dry, and my ears

rang from the sound of the engines.

The small atoll lay just on the horizon

and he banked hard to starboard

plummeting toward the blue Pacific

I eyed the peep and waited.

Push, I clicked the button

and repeated six times

pulling hard on the yoke

we bolted back to the blue.

The images were grainy,

black and white photos

of derelict airfields and waste

barren landscapes.

Oxymoronic, Military Intelligence.