For Shame

Derric Saville
March 25, 2005

For shame, Sir

as the death knell sounds

for our children
to re-ignite your father’s war
too late
and stilted
by the passage of time
a sullied badge of honor
aggression whispers the oval room
pre-emptive strike diverted task
terror fodder all ablaze
while the tall turban lives on
mocking your vaunted army
dirt upon your forehead
ignominious defeat in victory
searching vainly for Wasted Matter Dust
lying to us all about the rush to war
while all about you hawks fill the sky
and your crooked smile carries the day
as the sons and daughters of a nation
believed in you
and a mission to ease the terror strain at home
but in the end
we hang our heads
and weep
not for you
but, for the shame
your arrogance rained upon us all

and now your minions

invade our daily lives
seeking to force the justice of the land
to do your bidding too,
err on the side of life,
while you willingly kill the felons
without reprieve
and the soldiers
standing at my bedside
telling me I must live,
despite my pleas to escape
the indignity of pain
all because your countenance misread
the people’s wishes,
again,
your insufferable intemperance for blood
of others, while your fanatic fans
face a nation of independents
now unwilling to support your actions
all now see the lengths to which
your administration is willing to reach
just to make you feel good,
like the despot you deposed in the desert
you believe you know better than we
and condescend upon us your enlightened view
you were elected to govern
not to intrude
your congressional leaders flurried
your unconstitutional plan
to save one dead person
whose body has yet to release her to God
and yet you portend that you know better
than the divine you pledge to follow
will he abandon you in your time of sorrow
and bring down upon your house the
prolonged pain we visit every day
or will you slip slowly into the
long goodnight of your damaged politicos
when you arose to sign that feted bill
did your hands tremble
with the knowledge
that you were exposing your party’s
final sins
the arrogant aggression overseas
turned inward and forced upon your plebes
wiping away the dew from our foggy vision
that all may now see the charlatan
ranting loudly for who he is
a modest man of simple means
simple mind,
and full of fear,
that a moderate will
sequesters you upon your ranch
and wails for twenty three years
about the man whose vision was not clear
but narrow minded and focused on control
of his followers and the world
for all of this you’ve heaped upon us all

For shame, Sir,

For shame.