-Plastic Figurines-

Toy soldiers don't bleed.
No need
to repair
their tiny plastic
legs and arms
after pretend warfare.

Toy soldiers don't grieve.
Figurines
don't weep on sleeves
of fellow families.

Toy soldiers don't die.
No twenty-one gun salute.
No black suits.
No folded flag burial
or half mast memorial.

No,
toy soldiers don't die,
grieve
or bleed
like real life
army and marines.
No,
this is not playtime
this is not make believe.

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5/10