Not This Time
By Ken Setter
Not this time
can poets write
of gallant battles
fought man to man
all for one
and one for all.
Not this time
this high tech
so-called surgical
precision
distance bombing
done at night
only they can see
a video game
repeated nightly.
Not this time
can people say
"I did not know"
it's on TV.
I see the joyful bombers
return from flight
I hear them tell
of Christmas trees
light up and
fourth of July parties.
Not this time
can they be free from blame
their hands are stained
with blood spilt for oil
to smooth the wheels
that run on bottom lines.
Not this time
do they do these things
not in my name
no
no
not this time.