poems
chapbooks
prose
articles
reviews
books
guidelines
faq
about
bios
cover

links
home
  Marek P. Parker  
   
 
     
     

The Silent Americans

What a great war
            Hollywood would be proud

This war saunters along
            Like John Wayne in a black and white WWII movie

We watch Wayne strut, shout and shoot
All of the blood is off screen
            Just like in our televised event

We are force-fed Pomp and Circumstance
            Photo ops of the dearly,
                       but never of the departed

You tell us
            Truth is a matter of national Security
            Yet to speak the truth is a breach of trust
            And you can trust
                       We don't know the truth

Americans in the streets
Yelling
                      "These colors don't run"
            Draped in flags with the caption
                      "Try and Burn This!"

All the while Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Ashcroft
Trample the bill of rights
And fan the flames of fear
            "red…yellow…orange alert."

And the war rages ….
As the dissenters go silent
News women and men
            Professors and students
Questions are dangerous
            When danger is near.

Silence preferred
Ignorance cheered

And our Bush
Can't see the forest for the trees
Resurrecting star wars to protect
You and Me

Using the same smoke and mirrors as
Episode's I, II, and III

Lives will be lost
Money will be made
Election campaigns will be won

And now, a word from our sponsor's

This war has been brought to you by
            the letters FOX
            And CNN
            And ABC
            And DOD
            And Let us not forget the B.S. and all the letters In between

And we return to the screen
            John Wayne still standing tall
Americans still silent
            As war rages on

     
     
     
 
   
     
 
 
       
  Copyright © 2010 Pemmican Press and the author/artist represented.