The Fourth World War
beginning in the streets and alleyways
of ancient Baghdad,
a beaten army does not surrender

Taking shelter under Cafe Casbah collusion
it launches passionate counterattacks
against armies of old McDonald's Freedom Fries to go.

For how many centuries will embedded journalists lie to us
about secret enemy weapons of mass monstrosity
talk of blistering battles where American teenagers
walk unharmed in noble radiance among
the million stinking corpses of Arabia?

In how many cities, across how many deserts,
for just how long will this barbaric war
of so-called civilizations be played out
in theaters of human sacrifice and jealous Gods?

  2003 - Stew Albert