Perp Talk

(Sonnet on Bush's visit to U.S. troops)

After the presidential platitude,
The army ranks in canvass, khaki clad,
Await the presidential pause, thus cued
To whoop and holler, feigning hearts made glad.
Like half-wit sheep, all bleating as one beast,
These shell-shocked soldiers, shorn of hair and wit,
Then reach for their commander, great to least,
To shake the hand that wiped the royal shit.
Lambs to the slaughter, pawns in princely chess,
They have no inkling what they do or why.
Unquestioning allegiance to profess,
The cheerful chumps cheer on the chiefest lie.
Beneath the hoopla and the flag unfurled,
They're dumb accomplices to burn the world.

June 2003