Monday, September 04, 2006

We know Better


These hands
covered with the blood
of countless innocent lives
lives erased by political decisions
decisions made thousands of miles away

these hands
so out of touch with reality
with the real world
hands that write words unrecognisable to reasonable minds
repeating lies as though through the repeating
they become the truth …

if heard enough

But we know otherwise …

We see that blood
we see the blood on those hands
just as clearly as we see
the bloody corpses
the violated victims
brutalized and raped by those chosen to
bring the gift of democracy to their shattered land

(a land shattered by the bombs dropped by the orders
written by the bloody hands,
a democracy promulgated by the hands of the man
that knows not the meaning of the word democracy)

it is a gift with a price far too great to accept

We see the blood flowing from wounds
inflicted by bombs
bombs dropped on children, playing in the street,
bombs dropped on hospitals, mistaken for enemy strongholds,
bombs dropped on schools,
obvious sources of evil

But we know otherwise …

We have seen this all before,
exotic places with different names
in Southeast Asia,
My Lai, and others
where villages were destroyed
burned to the ground
children running through the jungle
flesh melting from bodies
as Napalm eats them alive

But we know otherwise …

we know this “war on terrorism” is only a ruse

an excuse to pursue the colonial ideals
the height of imperialistic greed and avarice
to the peoples of other lands
regardless of what they want

“This is democracy,” they cry from atop their soapboxes,
voices straining to be heard over the strains of
“America the Beautiful”
but we know better
when an Electoral College
with the powers to ignore
the voices of the people
disregards the votes cast …

Is this the Voice of Democracy?

fortunately,
we know better.

Friendly Fire and Stingrays

more friendly fire
Canadian soldiers look
just like Iraqis

§§

croc hunter is dead
dispatched by a stingray barb
won’t do that again

§§

here is a stingray
let’s play with it just a bit
oh damn, now we’re dead

§§

My sincere condolences go to those who knew Steve Irwin, and especially to his widow, and partner in the Australia Zoo, Terri Irwin. The news of the passing of the “Crocodile Hunter” made for a couple of Haiku that just had to be shared. Irwin, best know for his antics with snakes, “oh, she’s a bit cranky right now,” he’d say as he held a poisonous serpent from the tail, dangling it between his legs. The news that the barb from a stingray pierced his chest came as no surprise, but does sadden me. At least this was a guy who did something to save the wildlife that he loved. I hope his work at the Australia Zoo continues.

… and now, back to the Haiku …

an A-10 Warthog
killing more Canadians
which side are we on

§§

Join Our Alliance!
Fight Against the Terrorists!
our troops still kill you

§§

Pen in hand Bush asked,
“you’re sure this law will save lives?”
Then Veto I Must

§§

an idiot sees
only that which others see
pointing out highlights



Saturday, September 02, 2006

for your consideration

To change things up a bit, instead of an essay I present some poems for your enjoyment.

some haiku for your consideration …

with each passing day
more souls are ripped from this world
the president laughs

voices raised in vain
anguished pleas to save their lives
but the bombs still fell

empty promises
diplomats sent far too late
now the money flows

blood has feed the sand
the thirst is barely assuaged
the land thirsts for more

how well they must sleep
where they can’t be touched by bombs
safe in the white house

famous for their strength
the cedars of Lebanon
now reduced to ash



for something a little different … a free verse expression of a political sentiment (if only that the 5/7/5 constraints of the haiku is too restrictive for this material and the way i want to express it).

the desperate charge

he stood right there for all the world to see
saying the words that were as clearly heard
the first time
as when he repeated himself
clarifying what he meant to say …
“after all,” he said
people were taking what he said out of context
he wanted them to look at what he said
“look at the words,” he said,
“the words,” the words, mere words, or are they
words as weapons
to intimidate and control
to herd the population through the terror levels
even if there isn’t any threat of attack …

the words are critical, they set the stage
they allow the government to lead the way
to guide us down the path …
by keeping us in fear it is easier to control
but what they don’t realize is that some of us
have broken away …

we do not follow the rest of the herd
when we hear “the words” spoken by the puppets
standing in the colourful boxes
we actually hear
what is being said
we have the temerity to expect that when someone dares to suggest
that we are in a war against “Islamic fascism”
to suggest that opposing this “war” is tantamount to those who
appeased the nazis during the holocaust
can only suggest one thing
the president and his entourage should be
sent to hell

Copyright © 2006 by the CrazyComposer (aka Peter Amsel)