Air Force Interview

there’s a kid sitting next to me at starbucks.
he’s chatting with a woman in the air force
about going to the academy.
a high school junior talking about his rigorous schedule
of academics and athletics.
he says he wants to serve his country,
and i want to jump up and shout and say:
it he only knew.
become a great teacher in a public school,
or a million other things.
yet an air force daughter keeps quiet,
drinks her mocha,
and mourns the loss of tricare insurance
and access to walter reed.

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