Swans


 

At The Banquet Of Humanity

A Poem by Jan Baughman

 

Off guard we were plunged into ice-cold soup
on September 11
A few of us drowned
the rest flailed and choked
panicked in the wake
of a wake-up call

When we surfaced for air the recipe of revenge
was already devised
The ingredients thrown in
churned nicely together
but we had no say
is was safer that way

Add a pinch of anthrax, a dash of fear
take away liberty
In the name of security
and justice for all
in the name of freedom
a bitter tasting freedom

We warmed in the soup as the rhetoric flared
the world must be free
Of this brand of evil
democracy will prevail
once Osama is hanged
if Osama is hanged

The soup became thick as the temperature rose
from blue to orange
But everything's fine
be a good sport
and go to the mall
we'll take care of it all

In a matter of time were scalding in war
the prescription for vengeance
Had quietly changed
to Gulf War Cuisine
à l'essence de Saddam
Osama was gone

As the soup boiled over we fled to dry ground
don't feed us with lies
And poison the world
from a menu of death
presented as truth
piquant in untruth

We take to the streets from New York to Madrid
and feed hungry souls
From a menu of peace
a taste of what's served
to those who would be
at the Banquet of Humanity


 
· · · · · ·

 
Iraq on Swans
Poetry on Swans

 

Jan Baughman on Swans (with bio).

Do you wish to share your opinion? We invite your comments. E-mail the Editor. Please include your full name, address and phone number. If we publish your opinion we will only include your name, city, state, and country.

Please, feel free to insert a link to this article on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, please DO NOT steal, scavenge or repost this work without the expressed written authorization of Swans. This material is copyrighted. All rights reserved.
· · · · · ·

This Week's Internal Links

The Real Movement And The Media Movement: A Touch Of Lerneritis - by Lou Paulsen

Accessories To Assassination - by Gilles d'Aymery

Using The "UN Process" To Help Organize A Massacre - par Edward S. Herman

A Massacre By Any Other Name - by Deck Deckert

Reckless Administration May Reap Disastrous Consequences - by Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)

A Heartbreaking Presidency Of Staggering Hypocrisy - by Eli Beckerman

The Evolution Of Slavery - by Philip Greenspan

Size Matters - by Milo Clark

PLI SELON PLI A Modern Masterpiece - Music Review by Gregory Elich

Look Deep Beyond Civilization - Book Review by Michael Stowell

Letters to a Young Poet (Letter Three) - by Rainer Maria Rilke

i sing of Olaf glad and big - Poem by e. e. cummings

Letters to the Editor

 


Published February 17, 2003
[Copyright]-[Archives]-[Resources]-[Main Page]
Swans
http://www.swans.com