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Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

0 posted 2007-01-06 02:58 AM

(My first poem of 2007 here is louder and more angrier than y'all are used to seeing from me, but felt this just had to be written in response to this administration's proposal to raise the troop levels in Iraq by thousands, and worse still be promoted under the banner of "sacrifice".

Americans have spoken loud and clear that they want LESS troops in Iraq, NOT more, and the only real reason it's being done is because they just can't admit their mistakes and that virtually everything about this war is wrong.

This is about ego, plain and simple, and the fact their ego is now making "sacrifice" an excuse for marching on and refusing to admit their mistakes is not just a slap in the face to the American public (only 12% believe in more troops) but to the faces of our young men and women in uniform, who are literally fending for their own lives just so those who got us into this senseless quagmire could again attempt to prevent themselves from saying they lost Iraq selfishly. )

*

Frantic Centerpiece
By: Noah Eaton
1/5/06

He knew that to find your place in the sun,
you must prepare,
to put up with your share of blisters,
but now three years have gone by,
he swears it feels like treading a tightrope,
simply walking through the crossfire this winter,
he’s got some Christmas postcards,
tucked close to him in his breast pocket,
they’re the only thing that fights the fatigue,
while the commander-in-mischief,
hears out everyone but listens to no one,
like some cynic coaching Little League.

Did they forget down the road,
that it’s not what we take up,
but what we give up that matters most,
can they sleep at night,
when visited by familiar ghosts,
sacrifice is an ugly enterprise,
I feel its ink smearing across each press release,
feeling the breach of the peace,
when it becomes seized,
as ones frantic centerpiece…

I’ve heard a man,
who trims himself to suit everybody,
begins to whittle himself away,
lately I’ve been swallowed in the reciprocality,
hearing more die each day,
for an ego’s shadow play,
like mice between the cat’s teeth,
they’re clad in shimmering white,
but are hemorrhaging from the inside,
all because some short-sighted guide,
failed to provide their leeward side,
choking on their own malignant pride,
with some squint-eyed, straw-drawing stride.

Did they forget down the road,
that it’s not what we take up,
but what we give up that matters most,
can they sleep at night,
when visited by familiar ghosts,
sacrifice is an ugly enterprise,
I feel its ink smearing across each press release,
feeling the breach of the peace,
when it becomes seized,
as ones frantic centerpiece…

(Sacrifice becomes senseless,
once you feel it is a sacrifice,
sacrifice becomes senseless,
once you feel it is a sacrifice,
throats never sounding so hoarse,
for having to stay the course,
over,
and over,
and over,
and over,
again…………….)

I’ve heard a man,
who trims himself to suit everybody,
begins to whittle himself away,
lately I’ve been swallowed in the reciprocality,
hearing more die each day,
for an ego’s shadow play.

Did they forget down the road,
that it’s not what we take up,
but what we give up that matters most,
can they sleep at night,
when visited by familiar ghosts,
sacrifice is an ugly enterprise,
I feel its ink smearing across each press release,
feeling the breach of the peace,
when it becomes seized,
as ones frantic centerpiece…

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other"

Mother Teresa

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant

since 2000-01-29

Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia

1 posted 2007-01-06 03:17 AM

Noah... this is a very powerful write..
well done
RDB

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

2 posted 2007-01-06 05:15 PM

Nice writing Noah...in fact it is Senator John McCain that is leading the charge to send at least 20,000 more American soldiers to Iraq. If more soldiers are needed they should train more Iraq soldiers and have them stationed in Baghdad...James

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

3 posted 2007-01-12 09:56 AM

A gut-wrenching of writing.
I am sure that the tragic loss of your cousin Jeremy over in Iraq, has added to your anti-war passions and you expressed them very powerfully.

Peace, Love, & Harmony,
Linda

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