"McDonalds and Disneyland in Baghdad" by Shawn Hamilton - Contest Entry

"McDonalds and Disneyland in Baghdad"

by Shawn Hamilton

A critical strike--
Locusts swarm Baghdad.
Hands on general watch point north;

We know the hour.

Onerous change--oppressors change.
And we who walk the valley of the Shadow of Debt, shall fear,

No Skull and Bones,

Though a president's brain be splayed

Over Grassy Knolls.

History's violent melody replays
With variations.

From sea to shining sea, We the People lull
On soporific sofas watching oligarchy opera.
Dan Rather serves US polite Pepsi perspectives,
Big Mac American arrogance,
News Cheetos!
We lick orange agent from our limp lips,
O tranquil frenzy!
As embedded recorders with the Pentagon
Daily News,
Laud the 3-7th Cav "mopping up"
Post-nocturnal engagement.

Back home in the Heartland
SUV super tanks hump bumpers, want to run you
Into a ditch. Dodge Ram you!
They'll Custer you out.
They'll show you stars and bloody stripes!
"God, Guts, and Guns"--American Justice.
V-8 diesel and United States flag,
Mud flap silver sex dolls and "The Power of Pride."
Inside the cool cab Limbaugh wipes the Greasy Grass from his chinny chin.
He hardens,
And repeatedly violates Hillary.

God bless our Disney World dynasty!
We sow seedy embryos and reap
Sanitary solace in Fantasyland.
When Minnie minds
The Superstore,
Watergate McBurglars and Enronald McDonalds loot tills
Prevaricate with Goofy excuses,
Blame matronly Mickey Mouse Marthas.

O Dumbo Democracy!
Our Pinocchio president can barely reach
The end of his nose to scratch it.
"Rule by the People"
With money and power?
Plutocracy! In thin disguise.
Who dispatch fighting forces to dominate the globe as burning oil wells rain
Petroleum drops on dead jarheads in deserts;
The dumb grunts die
To advance
Elitist empire.

And We, The Petty Perfect People back on Main Street,
Huff and cower before TV altars
Eating Freedom Fries,
Supersized.
Waving Wal-Mart flags, we cheer the new Grand Opening:
McDonalds and Disneyland in Baghdad.