Semper Fi
Do or Die
I hear them shouting
marching waving
banners, waving guns
and making sure
that every one is
quite aware they’re here
to tear in to the
soul
of the situation
The marching feet
tell stories
worth a million words
a step
(left right left)
of blood on tracks,
of blood on hands
and cities left
to burning
but Semper Fi
Do or Die
they’ll shout
with every step
(left right left)
until they done
or did, and there’s
not a banner left
the jeers.
the whips.
the sneers. the
hate. the sweat. the
nails. the torture. the
horror. the hate. the hate. the hate
the hate. the hate. the hate. the sorrow.
he gave his all to take it all. the weight on his
shoulders. and i, with all my sins, deserving
nothing less than the agony of a despicable life
and despondency of inescapable death have been set free.
with love. in love. for love. for sake of me, he received it
all.
I would like a little clarity
And I’d like not to have a choice
I’d like to always be attuned
And listen to that still small voice.
the bank teller from last month:
a gun pressed to his temple
eyes closed he trembled like a leaf
trying to put bills into a bag
i have a wife, three kids…please…
i approached noiselessly
said something witty, something dark
and before the crook could turn in surprise
i snapped his neck his body fell to the floor in a heap
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou
said the teller.
the other day he quit his job
left his wife
left his kids
figuring life is short, said fuck this,
got into his car and drove across town
into the arms of another.
why do i fight for this world
when they do all they can to destroy it?
the old lady from last week:
her feeble cries for help
barely lifted from the flames
the smoke choked her ancient lungs
she felt the heat of Death’s breath
i crashed through the weakened roof
tossed flaming furniture from my path
found her in the corner
scooped her gently into my arms
leapt down six stories to safety
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou
said the old lady.
an investigation later revealed
the source of the conflagration:
her meth lab.
and
in the other room:
the charred remains of
her four-month-old granddaughter.
why do i fight for this world
when they do all they can to destroy it?
the prime minister yesterday
impeccable his in his new suit
stood at the podium pontificating
oblivious to the sniper’s crosshairs.
he would later say when he heard the shot
his life flashed before his eyes
but I moved across the stage
swift as light
caught the bullet in my right hand
presented it to him as a souvenir
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou
said the prime minister.
today he declared war
in retaliation for the attempt on his life
half a million soldiers prepare for battle
saying goodbye to childrenwiveshusbandsbrotherssistersmothersfathers
taking up their guns
promising to write
promising to make everyone proud.
why do i fight for this world
when i should destroy it?
