In my dream I went into Columbus - Columbus, Georgia, through the rain. Seemed only like I knew where I was going - to a store - Bill Calley - something - supplies - the name is hazy.
Inside the place was lit against the darkness. Dull, silver, sharp and shiny things - like jewels or tools - I can't remember.
I see my man, he stands behind the counter. His face set all uneven - fairly fit still, the ex-marine.
And now I'm here, I have my question ready. Ready as anyone - ready as anyone - "Oh Mr Calley - Please - a moment of your time - about My Lai..."
Suddenly I couldn't see for running and I'm in a space that's screaming and could say no more for choking on the smoke which came smoking which came pouring from the the clearing. And I knew why I was running - from the cracking of the branches, from the heavy men behind me.
Bulk and sweat in uniform - with implements and running clumsy - knowing that there was no need for caution - no opposition - no defending - easy work. And one I saw his face he'd turned towards me - his face set all uneven like a, like a young man who'd had a stroke at tewenty-one. His face he turned towards me and he hisses - "Get out, get out, get out, this my place of business".
Inside the place was lit against the darkness. Dull, silver, sharp and shiny things - like jewels or tools - I can't remember.
I see my man, he stands behind the counter. His face set all uneven - fairly fit still, the ex-marine.
And now I'm here, I have my question ready. Ready as anyone - ready as anyone - "Oh Mr Calley - Please - a moment of your time - about My Lai..."
Suddenly I couldn't see for running and I'm in a space that's screaming and could say no more for choking on the smoke which came smoking which came pouring from the the clearing. And I knew why I was running - from the cracking of the branches, from the heavy men behind me.
Bulk and sweat in uniform - with implements and running clumsy - knowing that there was no need for caution - no opposition - no defending - easy work. And one I saw his face he'd turned towards me - his face set all uneven like a, like a young man who'd had a stroke at tewenty-one. His face he turned towards me and he hisses - "Get out, get out, get out, this my place of business".
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William Calley was the leader of C Company, the platoon responsible for the mass slaughter at MY Lai on the 16th March 1968.
He was the only one of a number of killers that day ever to be sentenced.
He got Life in 1971 but was released pending appeal by Nixon after 3 days and finally released in 1974 after spending 3 years as the most privileged prisoner in America.
The 1994 Dog Faced Hermans song "Calley" is written from the perspective of a journalist who travels to Calley's store in Columbus, GA to interview him. She is chased out of the store by an enraged Calley after asking about My Lai.