by David Ackley
Of arms and the man, I'd sing :
The man who came back
to a new pair of arms
straight off the rack.
I'd sing Cheney, Dick,
Scourge of Terror: Like it,
one part horror,
99 parts bullshit.
And bugout Bush,
on that blighted day,
inspired in flight,
crooning fly me away.
Of waste laid in shock
and awe, golden fruit
spilled in streets,
for garbage and loot.
And cabals in dark rooms
I'd sing, and how
with club and boot,
they make us bow.
Of waterboards--
“enhanced interrogation”--
in truth,
by inches, drowning.
Of all this and more
would I sing my song
of endless war,
if my mouth weren't plugged
with the desert
you sold me,
you peddlers of bull shit.
That and the fact that people with doctorates are driving cabs and flipping burgers and the best jobs in America require a passport and visa in the country where they went? Yeah, well... Why aren't these guys locked up?
Don't get me started on those war criminals.*
Tin soldiers and Koches coming, we're fine-ally on our own... *
Send lawyers guns and money...
All of the above. **
Bravo!
The truth is long, hard road. Good piece, David. *
With this, there was no cause for subtlety, but thanks all for your endorsement.
Not subtle.
Thank you.
Lxx
Well sung despite the desert in your mouth. *
Needed to be said.
The ending did it for me. Superb.
"Of waterboards--
“enhanced interrogation”--
in truth,
by inches, drowning.
Of all this and more
would I sing my song
of endless war,
if my mouth wasn't filled
with the desert
you sold me,
you peddlers of bull shit."
Oh yeah. Sing it.*
Thanks, Bill, Beate, Darryl and Gary for your generous comments.