Be callous, grow a callus
Forge a shield
around your heart
Don’t let
those inconvenient bodies
occupy space
in your evidence-doubting
mind
oh, you won’t be
fooled once again
you won’t fall
for double standards
since the entire truth
cannot be known
and images can be fabricated
and you find some
of the cultural
practices
of the alleged victims
objectionable
are eager o believe the worst
about all of them
better they die a soundless
death, over there
far away
don’t disturb
the ideologies
in the coffin
of your long-expired youth
why don’t they just
give up?
They know they are
outnumbered
outgunned
and can’t win
(our Resistance was different:
the Allies’ Boots were on the ground
the war was declared
and we could win)
Besides, if left alive
kids can grow
to be happy,
even if an ogre
is at the helm.
Let me pull out my rainbow
peace flag
and wave it into the wind
No need to even find
an appropriate Embassy
Wars are every where
so why target one in in particular
And plus being a person of Letters
you should make sure
no one targets and offends
the great works of yesteryear
Those are the ones
that count and nourish
the human soul
and merit
the wagging of your tongue
Not those alleged bodies
in their alleged ruins
(it’s The War, Baby!)
Killed by who knows which
of those militarist
males bent on disturbing
your summer plans
your rosy prospects
of conflictless future
unkneaded by that blood
by those tears.
Pina Piccolo 8 April 2022