eve of my 52nd birthday
December 16, 1998
air strikes on Baghdad begin
tv screen lit up with
shots of sky above our
world's oldest city
Saddam's dark radio voice urges
defiance defiance
hours later I decorate the tree
as Pavarotti's concert comes on
Liberian children chant
"we don't want no more war"
Stevie Wonder and Luciano sing
"peace wanted just to be free"
and I have to sit down
fifty two years ago my mother
is in labor and
in a few hours from now
I am born
fighter pilot father
first wave baby boomer
after the bombs
why are we still doing this
the children chant
Stevie and Luciano sing
my tears