victory conditions
My father taught me
to say I love you
every time
you stood in the door
left for school
went to work
flew off to war
it became a habit
a good one
like checking the tires
or clicking your seat belt
but now
every conversation feels
like a movement to contact
we took the same vows
we swore the same oaths
we wore the same uniform
we see the same news
I raise my kids
like he did his
and have the same hopes for them
How is it that we now live
in two countries?
three more tanka from Des Moines, Iowa
1.
The leafblower drone
buzzes into consciousness—
fast cicada hum.
I wave to the new police,
before I close the window.
2.
Yellow Little Bird
hovers near high-voltage lines
conducting repairs
outside my bedroom window,
but I am miles away.
3.
Thunder and popcorn;
a remembered joke about
the “sound of freedom.”
In rain, I stand listening
as rifles prepare for war.
a future space force marine writes haiku
1.
This drop won’t kill you—
terminal velocity
varies by planet.
2.
We spiral dirt-ward,
samaras in early fall,
sowing destruction.
3.
Reconnaissance drones
orbit our squad’s position:
Expanding beachhead.
4.
“Almost” only counts
in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Go toss them a nuke.
5.
If war is still hell,
at least my bounding mech suit
is air-conditioned.
This is just to Say All Again After …
after William Carlos Williams’ “This is Just to Say”
I have expended
the “pineapples”
that were in
the ammo box
and which
you were probably
saving
for final protective fires
Forgive me
they were explosive
so frag
and so bold
Most Likely /
Most Dangerous Enemy Courses of Action
what most
threatens my children
social media /
unending war
the rat race /
the daily grind
half-baked policies /
global warming
a lack of hope /
a lack of justice
my constant distraction /
my constant distraction
the stand
if you can’t stand injustice
take a knee
if you pray for others
take a knee
if you believe in freedom, not fabric
let others see
you practice
what you preach
