The Empire Ends (part 1)

Today I overheard two old guys talking.

They spoke to each other in gravel tones

from behind nicotine clouds.

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"By God..." one said to the other,

"I fought in two goddam wars for

this country just like you did."

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"Hell, yeah." the other one chimed in

adding a cough from lungs

that will never be clear.

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Across the room two young men

argued over who should control

the television remote.