From the collection And Don’t Come Back, 2021.
It Sort of Loses Some of Its Punch
Two old guys telling army stories
going to walk in the park
tell army stories and walk
just two old guys
the one old guy
in the white T-shirt
he is saying
We were in the camp and
and he is talking loud
there was this one old
when he
catches sight of me over here
oh I’d better watch my
he lowers his voice
Yes
two old guys
walking in the park
whispering army stories past me.
8/24/20
Claudia McGill Writes Poetry, Did You Know That? 
In my experience, the ones who were actually in the thick of it never talk about it at all. (K)
Like in so many other contexts.
Yes, that’s true.
This reminds me of the time we were eating in a diner near two Vietnam veterans who were talking loudly and were most definitely not editing their language or content for the benefit of the kids at our table.