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