You came in all the glory:

the uniform of a peacock

heals clicking, sabres rattling

music of silver tongued promises

to save me from me

to make me in your image

all there just for the taking

With the help of the carrot: “I will set you free”

and the stick: “you will die if need be”

I only must understand, have compassion,

help you serve the far away master

fiery dragon living safely in ivory towers

demanding to be fed by the gold I have,

land I own, oil I get for free

Then you can rebuild my destroyed home

In the glorious image of the dragon you serve

ruling you by the stick: “be a grateful servant or…”

and the carrot: “you will die if need be

and rest in graves of heroes”

Survived being saved

In my raped land, my culture on its deathbed

much of my family killed, maimed.

Impoverished soul of my people

pleads me to rise, to start feeding

the just awaken-fiery dragon of ours

who calls you a terrorist

that gives me the banners of savior

and guides me by the stick: “on your knees, live in shame”

and by the carrot: “be a glorious fighter

and rest in unmarked graves of martyrs.”

I am to kill and maim you, your innocents,

destroy homes, put ever lasting fear in your lives,

instill starvation terror in your dragon

only to earn a new label of a terrorist

so you can justly stalk and kill me

on my land in my home.

Mother Earth, awakened, cries in pain:

“What are you doing my children,

You’ve all drank milk from my breasts.

I gave you my love to pass it on,

respect for self, compassion for neighbor.

Why are you hurting each other

tearing my womb, my heart?

This insanity is poisoning my core.

Don’t you know? The Father is coming,

not to judge right or wrong

only to offer the final carrot:

‘slay the dragons, and live in harmony on My world’

and the final stick:

‘I will show you how to annihilate it all’

 

H Bajramovic March 5-6, 2017