The Long Winding Trail
Keith Nightingale
Laden Grunts traversing the steep scree-laden hills
Preternaturally alert, analyzing
Cunning senses energized
Behind them, others followed
Olduvai Gorge to the Fertile Crescent to Everywhere
Anxious, alert, weapons ready
Burn-tipped spears
Obsidian blades
Leather slings
They are the survivors
As are all of us
Killers, honed and exercised
The apex predators of the Serengeti
Past Denisovans, Cro-Magnons, Neanderthals
Protecting what is dear
The survivors of evolution, procreation and action
Potential victims, vanquishing
Growing in capacity
The Plains, so forbidding and threat laden
Hungry animals and pseudo peoples
Ever anxious to kill competition and eat the results
Then, a spear, a sling, a rock in hand
Now a rifle and a radio
The brain, the ultimate weapon
Honed and expanded by negative experience
Eyes watchful, brain computing, muscles awaiting commands
Primordial exhilaration in victory
Lessons learned and imbedded
Repetitively, as a chemical and organic process
The survivors
A long winding trail
Ever more skillful in the task
The survivors
Our DNA now on display
Time and experience
Expanding capability
Survival of the fittest
Nature’s combat lessons
Hard won on the winding trail
Further, into the unseen distance
About the Author(s)
COL Nightingale is a retired Army Colonel who served two tours in Vietnam with Airborne and Ranger (American and Vietnamese) units. He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. He later commanded both the 1/75th Rangers and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade.