Cosmopolite

Freedom Rings
Hail the Chief
Bringer of peace
Sower of light.

But Wait.

Ahmed is dead
Khalil is dead
Hameed is dead
Amir Yas is dead
Children all
All are dead

But Wait.

Ali has no arms
Mahmud no legs
Issa Deli's face is torn
Mona Hassan's eyes are gone
Children all
All are Broken

Hail the chief
Bringer of peace
Lady love in arm
Dancing in the night
Sees not the harm,
Knows not the grief
His bombs of peace decend
Upon the tiny children
Of the wasted land.

You must understand
The chief explains,
We mean no harm
To those we bomb
When we should not.
Some must die you see
So others may live
The way I say,
Not another path.

Come see the light we see,
Come know the joy we know,
Come dance the night away
In courtly dress,
In Gayly lighted halls.

But Wait.

Mahmud has no legs
Ali no arms.
Ahmed?
Ahmed is dead.