Poetry

AFP photo

By

Ben White

Oscar Mike

There’s no war stateside,

And no indicators of sacrifice

To support your foreign patrols,

So welcome home –

Catch your breath,

Talk to your wife,

Hug your children,

And discuss your family’s future plans.

You have earned some downtime

So be human;

Be social;

Be civil –

No.

Wait.

The president needs to move some pawns

In his game of checkers,

So keep your duffel bag packed –

You’re deploying to the blue

Southern border

On a mission to flex

The country’s muscles in front

Of a caravan of women

And children refugees –

Thank you for your service –

The people in the red

Middle of the country

Aren’t concerned about

Your three tours

In the Middle East,

They just need you to occupy

Four Spanish-speaking states,

So America

Won’t have to do anything

Of a humanitarian nature.

Ben White

Author of the books, Buddha Bastinado Blues and The Kill Gene, Ben White thought he was a poet, only to find out he is not a poet at all. He is a witness. What he writes is testimony.