Scribblings

LIKE JERICHO
for Pvt Sean Estler
By Candace Rosovsky

On April 18, 1983 a terrorist bombed the U.S. Embassy in

Beirut. 63 soldiers died in the explosion.

When I was ten
my brother took me caving.
To prove I was brave
I followed him into a dark hole
skinned my knees
the palms of my hands
scraped my fingers on damp stones
saw nothing.

It was hot
and I was afraid.  

So dark and silent

the sound of us pushing loose rocks in a belly crawl through that long tight tunnel
sloping down into the mountain
made me hold my breath.  

I wanted to back out
scream, grab my brother's ankles
say, "Take me out
let me go back
I did not want to be here
I did this for you
let me go,
let me out.

Eventually we found the cave
cold and dank
and beautiful as he had promised.