Ultimately Justice Directs Them
1.
The soldiers are coming.
The soldiers
are coming to break America.
The soldiers are dispatched
from America
and they are landing
their boats on American shores.
2
Why are the soldiers coming?
Not because they believe
in what
they were told
but because they believe
that ultimately justice directs them,
that ultimately
the right thing will happen.
3
We say they are
the soldiers, but they are not:
they have chains and
moustaches
and hairstyles and daughters
and expressions on their faces
that their mothers remember on the faces
of the infants they were.
4
They are coming to break
everything down
to basics: America
has become too frumpy
for its pants.
Its health
care system cares not
for health.
5
Its laws are more paper.
6
Its schools are more paper.
7
Its schools are brick and paper.
8
The soldiers are yellow ribbon.
9
America looks at itself
and sees
itself, not America.
10
Itself looks at itself
and calls
what it sees America.
11
America has begun
calling everything
America no matter what.
12
Now more than ever.
13
Operation America.
Operation With Extra Cheese.
Operation With Fries With That.
Operation No Child Left Behind.
Operation Enduring Cheeseburger.
Operation Regurgitated Eagle.
Operation Prince of Freedom.
Operation All Night Long.
Operation Perhaps.
Operation No Really.
14
——
15
The soldiers are here.
16
Operation Big Time Pause.
17
Operation Please
And Thank You.
18
Operation Paper.
Operation No More Stars.
19
The Solders are wearing
yellow ribbons
in support
of the return
of the regular guy.
20
The soldiers are on TV
right outside
the door.
21
They are knocking——change
the channel.
22
Operation America Go!
Operation Yes!
Operation OK, OK.
Operation Every Man
for himself
and best of luck
to the women and kids.
23
——
24
By part 24 it is
already done.
– from No Tell Motel and The Best American Poetry 2009 [ed. David Wagoner]
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Author: The Best American Poetry
