Iraq War Poems

TRAX ride:
Reflections on looming war, recession

Postrain fresh
I am alone with myself.
Vent roars above,
beep signals: "GO."
No telling what will happen, so
world holds its collective breath,
and waits for war.
No tragedy like the one we’re in for.
Sleep lulls me closer.
Military machination rolls forward unceasingly,
as arms trade makes the world go round.
Lingering grayness under shadows.
Here and gone: things change quickly.
Dominoes Pizza closed.
Oh, to stop time, and to keep
these long-dreaded moments at bay.
Train stops briefly; people exit and board.
Rolling down 4th,
I notice all the closings,
like Dominoes.

November 2002

Pre-War Darkness

I wander helplessly, listlessly,
in the face of looming disaster.
No way to stop this
approaching madness.
How to find my center again?
How to gather strength,
after sleepless nights?
They won’t listen to us;
they ignore our warnings.
I could let go,
become oblivious.
Could I learn to sleep again?

March 2003

Shock and Awe,
First NIght

America, is this what you want?
America, you’ll get what you ask for, AND MORE
America, you are hurling headlong into the darkness
America, drive your SUVs off cliffs like lemmings
America, go get those evildoers
America, make them pay your price
America, tighten your grip on power
America, everyone else pays your price
America, have you no shame
America, you testosterone-laden, paranoia-driven, lunatic
America, you have forgotten what democracy is
America, now the world pays for you
America, I’m embarrassed to be seen with you
America, show off your new weapons
America, tonight I am sorrowful at your missteps

March 2003

Out-of-Control Egomaniac

You, the brutal dictator,
submit me to humiliation.
Power’s exhilaration courses your veins.
You hunger for adulation.
Oh, magnificent ego!
How tall and grand you are!
But now in the fragile moment,
history’s breath upsets the order,
and knocks you from your pedestal.

Nothing can stop us now.
We rampage the streets,
We demolish your delusional self-facades.
Your world is fading fast.

Why not build a truthful palace?
Regime change begins inside.

Spring 2003