Mission Accomplished

The little girl

in front

of the armored

humvee.

her hands

holding

candy

out-

to the soldier,

“wad you git der,”

he smiled.

Her head

Folded-

by her arms

into-

her torso

and his hands,

folded,

kissing-

his chest.

In remembrance of:
  William Carlos William's "The Red Wheel Barrow"
 and Coalition Forces in Iraq.

South Sudan

My brush begins to paint a story

Bristling black, green and red gore,

Tents as far as the eye can see,

Blood as deep as red can bleed,

Bruises as deep as black can be,

The wind batters tents against burnt grass

An armored jeep prevents a pass,

A child cries, a mother dies,

Free at last, free at last

Free from hands so calloused they don’t heal,

Free from peace so brutal they can’t feel,

Bashir signs a treaty, and then violates the deal,

Makes a move for the land,

While the people weakened, can’t stand

Up to the homicidal maniac,

Employing child soldiers, cuts filled with crack-

Burning farms so there’s no back

To the food and water they lack

And legs so weak

They can’t stay on their feet.