why is it
we want to
make
war?
to smash
what has been
built?
to maim the
human
form?
to cheer the
life-destroying
bombs like
fireworks on a
holiday?
when we cannot find
legitimacy, we
redefine
patriotism.
what we can’t
co-opt, we
preempt.
how can we
call ourselves
civilized to
contort the
law
to suit our
fibrillating
aims?
to treat our
prisoners as
less than
men?
to grasp our immigrant
citizens like a
vulture government
in the
night?
to flaunt
so shamelessly
our fatal
power?
we would
blithely provoke the
world to total
destruction for an
undisclosed
agenda;
to squander the
birthright of our
children’s children to
defend our right to
waste.
hate is our
gross domestic
by-product &
destruction our
principle
export.
we raise the
flag as our
morality dips
down.
we bluntly
intimidate our
friends as our
enemies
multiply.
the nuclear
horror is at
hand.
the impenetrable
shadows of
the dark age are
rumbling along the
horizon.
the vain shall be
humbled; & the
power-blind
will someday
see.
for the sake of this
backward
nation, of,
by & for the
people
who deserve
it––
we pledge our
lives, our
fortunes & our forsaken
honor.