The Wrong Man
You shot the wrong man
I told you
again and again
Not every Afghan
Is a Taliban
© Victor
Margolin 2002
(back to
top)
No More Land Mines
America has a new policy in Afghanistan
Said General Stonewall
at a recent news conference
We are now bombing landmines
Ten million are still buried in Afghan soil
We will blow up each and every one
Before an innocent civilian steps on it
The roads will be made safe
For Afghans who are traveling
To Pakistan and Iran
We will send high school choruses
to engage the hearts and minds
of the Afghan people
Their resistance to the Taliban
Can only be emboldened
When they hear young Americans
Lifting their voices in song
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the coming of the Lord
And Truth goes marching on
And we will change the contents
of the food packages
that fall from the sky
Twinkies and Oreos
will rain down on Afghanistan
Instead of rice and peanut butter
Twinkies and Oreos
Bombs and Ballads
America first
America last
Out with the land mines
In with the pipelines
One, two, three, four
We won’t stop the war no more
© Victor Margolin 2001
(back
to top)
War and Love
You speak at me
I speak at you
War
You speak to me
I speak to you
Civility
You speak with me
I speak with you
Friendship
You speak in me
I speak in you
Love
© Victor Margolin 2001
(back
to top)
Rebirth
I was a strong man
A patriotic American
A trader on Wall Street
When I died I returned to earth
as a poor Afghan woman
My penthouse became a makeshift hut
My Armani suit became a burqa
In New York I made millions
In Kandahar I had no work
My flights to Club Med
became flight from the foreigner’s bombs
My pride in the United States
became anger at the United States
Once I knew power
And now I knew fear
Perhaps I’d know compassion
the next time around
© Victor Margolin 2001
(back
to top)
Bombs
Bombs are like shoes
Doc Marten bombs
Blunt and direct
Good for airports and supply depots
Birkenstock bombs
With arch supports
Just right for hospitals
Wedgie bombs
With pom poms
Slip on a pair
And slip them off
When you see the Taliban
Below
© Victor Margolin 2001
(back
to top)
