Poem - $296 Billion

For a moment forget the shattered lives
The maimed and wounded bodies and souls

Forget the white crosses in the sand at Arlington West

Think of the money wasted in Iraq

$296,000,000,000,000
Billion!
Billion!
Billion!
To “liberate” a population of 27 million

The math boggles
And the waste inspires crushing hopelessness

We are less safe today
Than on September 11, 2001
More distrusted in the world
More despised

Bin Laden, where are you?

An eye for an eye leads to blindness for all
War leads to more war
Resentment to bitterness
Bitterness to hatred
Hatred to rage

$296,000,000,000,000
Would have bought a lot of health care
for our desperately ill;
A lot of education for our children;
Prescription drugs for our elderly;
Relief for our poor

When it comes to organized violence,
This is the land of the generous;
When it comes to human needs,
This is the land of the stingy