i. Prologue Ex br br This forever war is flowing somewhere… br A ballad of the blues over sanguine seas. br br The baghdad blues: br a man in a corner does not move. br His wife and children, strewn: lost love-letters of blood. br br Beneath the veil of a willowy dream, br as if the world shall absolve you with buttery palms. br God is watching you, sad soldier, br dragging the landing gear of prosthetics. br br br ii. Post En Medias Res br br In this land of no escape, br Take me to Walter Reed, br The privatized foothold of rats, br br Birthing future breeders br Of post traumatic stress, br Oil oligarchy disorder. br br To spend limbless days, br basking in the sun’s rays, enlivened br with particles of biochemical warfare. br br br br iii Facto Epilogue br br br I hear America crying: br politicians as war heroes, br priests as common criminals, br bards at the podium. br br And where are the philosophers? br Destined to the peeling wail br of a teetering helicopter, br Small mosquito in the eye of God? br br Listen, America, dry your tears, br don’t bask in the permanent grandeur br of abandoned radio halls br br As we walk on water like Jesus, br Apprenticed for Armageddon.