In Iraq

In Iraq's desert he lies
Staring with broken eyes
At leaden, empty skies,
He was only nineteen,
Much of the world
He had not seen,
He died for god and country
Or some such platitude,
But more correctly stated,
His leaders' attitude,
Maybe, he defended his soil
For profits on the oil.

Were you to wake
And ask him:
'Why did you go?'
He'd answer shyly:
'I just don't know...'

Alfred Charasz
Copyright 2008 Alfred Charasz