Poet's
Corner
By Mike Mahn
IPS Features


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IPS Features Staff

International Press Service

 






Sun Rise in Fallujah

 

The sun rises in Fallujah

As we bed down for the night,

Cat purring, dog snoring,

Horses stabled up tight.

 My mind wanders and wonders,

Far from the book in my lap.

There’s a tear in the fabric

Of our social compact.

 

But, all’s well on the Farm,

Made safe by their Fate.

 ***

Young Yusuf is most happy,

And smiles with pride

Watching his father

Strap a bomb to his side.

“The virgins are waiting,”

Papa says with a smile,

But it won’t be Papa

Walking that last mile

 

On the road to Fallujah

Where the young Marine waits.

 

***

The Corporal watches the workers,

The young and the old,

As some Iraqi boy’s mother,

Gives him a scold.

They come from the houses,

The huts and the tents,

Some setting up stands

While comes the one who was sent.

 

Young Yusuf walks to forever

Carrying his father’s  hate.

 

***

I read my book about history

As my wife closes her eyes,

Our toes touching softly,

Under warm covers and sighs.

 

The Corporal watches Yusuf

And suddenly he knows - 

All time now stands still

As the boy-bomb explodes.

 

His last thought is home,

Where his family now waits.

 

***

My wife shudders in her sleep

And mutters, ‘what was that?’

I pat her shoulder, and say,

‘it must’ve been the cat,’

 

As demons and dragons

Pose as virgins in hell,

Awaiting Yusuf’s father –

Only time will tell.

 

And angels watch, weeping

They come, too late.