My clouded reflection eyes me/ like a bird of prey, the profile of night/ slanted against morning.
The persona's thoughts focus on the Vietnam War. He cannot sleep because he is reflecting about the war. The reflections stop in the morning with the appearance of light.
I turn/ this way--the stone lets me go./ I turn that way--I'm inside/ the Vietnam Veterans Memorial/ again, depending on the light/ to make a difference.
The speaker is overwhelmed by the memories of the Vietnam War. He cannot help but think about the Vietnam Veteran Memorial. He may not be physically present at the memorial, but all his thoughts are there.
I see them stumble-dance/ across the hot asphalt/ with crokersacks over their heads,/ moving toward the interrogation huts
The prisoners lose balance while walking towards the place where they are questioned because of the hot asphalt. The hot asphalt is aimed at coercing them to reveal all the information to their captors. The torture of the prisoners commences as soon as they land at the prison.
thin-framed as box kites/ of sticks & black silk/ anticipating a hard wind/ that'll tug & snatch them/ out into space
This quote emphasizes the torture that the prisoners are subject to. The prisoners are thin because they are not fed well. They are malnourished to the extent that wind can blow them easily.
