Naming the Enemy

Each time we declare war on another culture,
we coin dehumanizing names for them
so we can kill them without remorse.

Redskin, Rusky, Haji, Gook,
Gerry, Nigger, Raghead, Dink,
Injun, Greaseball, Cracker, Spook,
Polack. Pickaninny, Jap, Chug, Chink.

We use language to turn them into something
other than fellow souls with similar dreams,
patriotic ideals, and families who love them.

The names help justify the indiscriminate
killing of soldiers and civilians
by reducing them to less than human.

SS America

The Ship of State is commanded by a spoiled boy
who steers his vessel in circles just to prove he can.
The crew collapses on the deck as the strings that move
their limbs begin to fray and finally break.
The passengers bicker among themselves whether
the captain is a demon or a grifter or a narcissistic idiot.
The survivors of other sunken vessels must tread water
until the frightened skipper knows flotsam from jetsam.
The first mate screams that fuel is running low
so the captain sends an S.O.S. to a ship lurking nearby.
No one seems to notice that ship flies the Jolly Roger
and its shirtless captain wears a knowing smile.
They don’t see the silent torpedoes coming through
the choppy sea until it’s too late for SS America.