Searchers

　　by D. Nurkse

　　 We gave our dogs a button to sniff，

　　 or a tissue， and they bounded off

　　 confident in their training，

　　 in the power of their senses

　　 to re-create the body，

　　 but after eighteen hours in rubble

　　 where even steel was pulverized

　　 they curled on themselves

　　 and stared up at us

　　 and in their soft huge eyes

　　 we saw mirrored the longing for death：

　　 then we had to beg a stranger

　　 to be a victim and crouch

　　 behind a girder， and let the dogs

　　 discover him and tug him

　　 proudly， with suppressed yaps，

　　 back to Command and the rows

　　 of empty triage tables.

　　 But who will hide from us？

　　 Who will keep digging for us

　　 here in the cloud of ashes？

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