by Gary Corseri

He wants a new language!
Ratta-tat-tat!  Ratta-tat-tat!
The old one’s full of homonyms
That sound too much like war: 


"Military-industrial"; "Humvee";
"Bombs bursting in air";
"Predator”; “duty ... honor ... country. ..."
 
BAM! Ker-pling!  Ka-boom!  BAM!
 
Even "pride," even "love"--
Drafted into service.
Every word has a medal
Stapled on its buttocks.
Every word's a hero
In an honor-guard casket
With a flag drooling over.
 
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat. ...
S p l a t !
 
Armor-piercing bullets say,
"Accept the world as it is!"
The shock and awe of their logic
Like cancer in children's dreams.
 
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom….
BAM!
 
Guns talk to guns--
A crimson tete-a-tete.
Nothing succeeds like excess.
Under the din of mourning--
Litigious sirens wail.
 
Snap!  Crackle!  Pop!
 
There is no light except for
Laser-guided missiles … and … possibly
 
Whoosh!
 
Enhanced night-vision goggles.

Gary Corseri has posted/published his work at Atlantic Free Press, The New York Times, Village Voice, Redbook, Georgia Review, and hundreds of other venues. His books (which may be ordered at Borders, etc.,) include the novels, A Fine Excess and Holy Grail, Holy Grail, and the anthology, Manifestations (edited). Contact: Gary_Corseri@comcast.net.

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