booksartyoume

"memorializing the dead" (memorial day, timothy r gates 2001/2008)

we memorialize the dead
warriors, who have done what few
are willing to do -- die
these soldiers, "where have they all gone?"
"...long time ago," many have sung
yet, this too is more often
a song sung by the opulent, more
afraid of the loss of
"a decent standard of living," first
coined as a post WWII
phrase of hope -- than
those dodging bullets in wars past;
China throws their unwanted
over fences and into fields, Indonesia
let their young scream, Afghanistan
marks out their wrong religionists, India
insures their cattle's lifestyles --
continuing to kill the respective coloured, South Africans
are told that aids is not an epidemic, Jews
and Muslims still slaughter each other
-- USA and Britain funding both sides...
the same foes can be friends
on any given exponentially economic beneficial day,
yes, in the name of the God
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; while
most Americans
choose what we'll not eat today -- with gluttony
being our highest deity, being assuaged
by more of the same...
ah, now i know
why we memorialize the dead.
"stars and stripes forever" (trg, 10-23-2001)

freedom of speech
or freedom of religion
like the freedom to pursue
happiness
all, if one chooses, may
be freedoms from
a certain sort of speech
or from any religion
as well as from pursuing personal
happiness;
stars and stripes forever
yes, our Flag was still there
gave proof that rockets bursting in air
can be both
freedom's song
and death's lament, depending
whether you're on
the winning side -- winners
die like losers
losers who live, live
to win on another day;
we all pray, "God bless America,"
like the angry wounded, embittered
elderly, who remember God's absence
when the enemy murdered their children, who
still keep a plethora of Icons...
just in case -- what's
the difference between
a rock star, sport's figure or
a military leader
declaring their innocuous gratefulness
for victory over their competitors
and the victor's victims
who have also prayed, hoping
to give the same innocuous spew?
none, other than -- only one wins.
nations fly their Flags
showing their pride and cumulative prowess,
rarely do we acknowledge
where, what and into whom
these Flags have been jammed, 'less
we might not have a choir to sing
our patriot's marches, 'less
they'd be dirges; Nations
gather their children to sing, here's
the epitome of propaganda, our
Anthems...
if we don't win
by killing enough of someone else's kids
our singers will then get
to be enlisted into the ranks
of our martyrs
for a just cause.