RNAL#5 (1/06) - The Gunnery

[The German Army, Russia, 1943]For twelve hours,I write through economic papersto reach Honors,that white transcript, written in black inkthat’s cracking bit by bitlike the glassy air, like me.I know I will fall apart soon,my eyelids are so heavy they close.The book flips its pagesrather than finding me quotes.Now it falls down on the floor like a dry rockand makes me tired and sleepyno quotes I can use.Someone calls to me and I look up.It’s Woody.I imagine him doing my paper with appreciation in his eyes.Dude, I say.I stand, pick up the book and place it on my desk.I hear the economic paper yelling at me,but I am already asleep.(Overlay by Che-Kuan Huang of “The German Army, Russia, 1943” by Ai)English Journal 5 (January 2006) 33