WAR POETRY--award winner

US, WITHDRAW!'rated 3.5 by 4 viewers

US, WITHDRAW!

[US invasion of Iraq-- how others view it]



US, power almighty,
Maybe you are like Him.
Maybe all should cater to
Your each and every whim.

Some are born simply too rich,
Some earn richness through deed.
Some have richness thrust on them
But some are a strange breed.

They plunder others’ riches
And enslave those born free.
Maya and Aztec cultures
Have faced their looting spree.

You are friend of none but yours,
No one believes your word;
For your selfishness you prop,
Dictators in the world.

When you want another’s oil,
You say WMD
Are possessed, hidden by him,
Which must give over he.

When the UN inspectors,
Find none of the above;
You turn around and declare:
“I’ve evidence enough.

My freedom is threatened by
Saddam, Iraq’s leader.”
Then you appoint you yourself,
The accuser’s pleader.

You decide what people need:
‘They want Saddam removed’.
You go ahead on your own;
UN is never moved.

You take the law in your hand
And march up the desert;
Thinking you would get garlands
For this bravest effort.

Alas, the garlands you met
Were men patriotic;
Who were human bombs who wore
Bombs which they themselves lit.

When too many body bags,
In the US, arrived;
Hopes of gallant victory
Of marines were belied.

Stung by this you remembered,
One more trick you could try:
Tell India and Pakistan;
“Send your soldiers to die’.

What a pity, dear US,
Both saw through this lame game;
They refused and avoided
You and your sullied name.

O US, I pity you,
You have to rue your fate;
May God grant you wisdom to
Withdraw ere it is late.




* Written in abcb, 7-6-7-6 format

Created: 2 May, 2004 as item 844949
Deleted: 22 March 2005