Evil comes in many places

drops its zeal on democracy's faces

bloodied dust blankets rubbled Gaza streets

now clandestine, it hovers and creeps

and hides in the banks and the islands and fleets

next bold, foreign commerce sets to flame

roiling crude to boil in a tangible political game

that substance we squandered like children in energy races

more addictive than water, gangs roll dice for its places

yet we insist we are not fighting for oil

deadly rockets and media smokescreens

fall like pamphlets on the masses

desperation and greed are kicking our asses

but Baghdad was beautiful once

strong like Arabica coffee, peaceful and serene

Baku, Heglig, NYC, and Scarborough Shoel

the Negev Desert, Las Malvinas were and are more

than symbols of crude subordination

to privileged conflicts of advantage du jour

there was a day when wholly-formed children just played

and Yazidi's women walked city streets freely

strong voices proclaimed and debated their truths

only rains fell on crops when the skies were not blues

the forests of Afghanistan flourished tall without bombings

the leopards were strong hunters, not subject to hunting 

by the conflict sickened, homeless and hungered

and nature, she rested while morning doves sang

I'd like to see beauty like that once again.