Take A Knee

It’s what they say
to do
to soldier on
what we teach
each young grunt
the first day
of boot camp

to drop down
onto one knee
balance the load
rest quaking legs
before driving on

So, over days,
kilometers
and rough terrain
taking a knee
becomes
as natural as
breathing

Then why is it
in this Kosovar meadow
before this muddied hole
filled with tangled legs,
patent leather shoes
on Muslim schoolgirls’ feet

one knee
is not
enough