My Zippo and Family Photos

ZIPPO THE SCOUT

We lit our cigarettes

with Zippos,

it was part of the uniform.

Mine has the logo

of the 85th Evacuation Hospital

and rests on the chest of drawers

in our bedroom

alongside photos

of our children and grandchildren.

I can hear its familiar click

anytime I want.

I can smell the lighter fluid

drizzling into the rayon balls

underneath the 1/4 inch felt.

GIs would fiddle with them

during the boredom hours

fixated by the exactness

of its parts, they would

name them, replace them,

marveled and lost

by its tiny perfection,

it's wind-proof flame.

Zippo carried the flame thrower.

He brought fire.

The M-9 carried on his back.

He and the medic delivered

the Hmong woman's baby

in the tiny village.

Jim Bodeen

National Petrified Forest--Bedroom Chest of Drawers

31 March--1 May 2019