Granai, Afghanistan May 2009
USA bombs village, kills 147 civilians, 0 Taliban

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I looked again and again at her eyes
black-burka-framed face exposed
her hand receiving
a packet of bills
accepting change
for a husband and two children
crazed eyes

her babies
for millions of seconds alive
her village of quiet nights
festive meals
her gaze now without
smooth curves like
satin to fall on
a third cherub with curls
in her arms in
soft cotton dress
leather-soled shoes tied nicely
like her brother's her sister's
shoes now minced for landfill
by our unbelievable overkill

can one finger press a button
to bomb the mother's babies
in one second
in one second faster than birth
or conception
they are gone