by Farzana Marie

The list boasted benefits
for 100,000 names–sons of a country
whose leader proved as faithless
as the duped-power who trusted,
handed him the list,
vanished.

Two men met in Amman
even as the list bled, as it
led the latest so-called caliphate
to doorsteps of soldiers
now called apostates.

The American colonel, retired,
tired of excuses,
could not open his mouth, once full
of promises.

Instead, the Sahwa leader opened
his pockets, vomiting dozens
of U.S. military unit coins
over the table and ground,
his voice an earthquake:

                             what good are these now?

 

 

 

 

(Copyright 2015 Military Experience & the Arts, Inc.)