a small
irregular hole
in
the pocket
of
an old cardigan
five neat buttons
adorn
the front
buttons
handled
by
two generations
of
doctors
in this village
so
such a small hole
would be expected
after
almost
two lifetimes
but
not the one
in the back
the one
left by
a government soldier’s
bullet
scrape the surface
of
ancient layers
of
life’s mud
and then
clear away
broken remnants
of history
from
hope’s vacant lot
a lot
strewn
with
the trash
of
shredded lies
and
uncover
the specter
of
mass murder
human
sacrifices
children
buried
in shallow graves
violent
sacrifices
to
an array
of
gods
gods
all
cast
in the image
of
those
who declare
that
their
god
is
the
only
true god
gods
that are
wrapped
in
patriotic
or
religious
flags
godly causes
less
than divine
and
perhaps
more
commercial
or
ego based
thus
one must
gently brush away
the loose sand
of
alibis
to
expose
the skeletal remains
hidden in
the mass burial sites
sites
in
palestine
yemen
sudan
and
along
the
american border
where
one sees
the splayed
bodies
of
children
victims
offered
in
carefully orchestrated
acts
of
ritual sacrifice
to
appease
human greed
transparency international
would like to
congratulate
you
you
have been selected
at random
from thousands
to receive
an all expense paid vacation
to one of their
top ten countries
this trip will afford
you an opportunity
to live life as a local
experience the reasons
for all those heart warming stories
that you have only heard about
on the evening news
for example
watch a new-born infant
vainly fight for survival
then
wade through governmental muck
attempting to bribe a government official
to regain your passport
experience the thrill of the hunt
by being the hunted
run wild to foreign borders
be rejected
or
imprisoned in tent camps
this is just a sample of what awaits you
and although previous winners
have requested a travel brochure
i must sadly admit we have none
however
i have enclosed
several photographs
with comments on each
photo number one
a lovely camp in sudan
where you’ll while away the hours
talking to natives from darfur
please ignore the small fire being set
in the foreground
photo number two
transportation system is displayed
these are somalian toll boats
please bring the correct change
since the captain only carries large bills
this is not some one time offer
like those silly tv commercials
this a stable world condition
so you need not rush to your phone
to respond
take your time
most people
have
