he said slap him down and
another comes in immediate-
ly to replace him. drones
strike like one strikes
invading ants with a flyswatter.
oh, it’s a new defense day.
no troops on the ground, hooray.
send in the troops?
okay, it’s time, it’s time, it’s time
to think of another way.
oh, maybe another day.
what is that
continuous knocking on the door?
is it really jesus, the buddha
and lao tzu but once more,
once more, once more?
open the door?
what, are you crazy? that’s
about personal faith and has
nothing whatsoever to do with
the realities of international
relations, so stop droning on
and on and on said the
realist to the pacifist
and the evangelicals all
cheered while waiting for
armageddon. jesus isn’t
going to turn the other
cheek when he comes on
the clouds the dental
hygienist said to the
captive audience. no
more mr. nice guy.