Atrocity

While many hacked away at the branches
the root was left intact

Our son awoke from his nap
in a strange country
his fourth tour of duty
a splitting headache
from an injury accident
during his third tour
when equipment supplied
by a no bid military contractor failed
going to war with the army in being

Our son put on his helmet flak vest
pushed a clip into his weapon
walked to the nearby village
that he was protecting and pacifying
killed nine children and seven adults
laid his weapon down and surrendered

Back home the sons of the politicians
who sent our son to war
were drinking beer at a sports bar
watching basketball and trying to get laid

Their fathers who send other peoples sons to war
were having lunch with lobbyists
from companies that provided no bid
military equipment that works sometimes
and other times injures and kills
other people’s son’s

They sipped martinis criticized the liberals
gave pledges of support for tax breaks, the…