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.
