Imperial Flush

(Sonnet on Newsday Magazine's "retraction" of its Koran story)

Investigative journalists of yore
Were held up as examples to us all
How citizens empowered should explore
Such scandals as shall make the mighty fall.
These days, having described the wicked acts
Committed by our military abroad,
The correspondents must denounce their facts
And fall upon a dull and blunted sword.
Whether it be Korans dumped in the loo
Or Bush going AWOL in his Vietnam role,
Enforcers of the Pentagogic view
Will strain out gnats to gulp these camels whole.
Now, even modest muckrakers must dread
The emperor shall say "Off with his head!"

May 2005