Hunting expedition.
All alone,
and afraid,
aged, infant-minded
America aims
the big gun
at her prey.
and afraid,
aged, infant-minded
America aims
the big gun
at her prey.
Heart closed off.
Gaze pinched, winced
for the coming blast.
Gaze pinched, winced
for the coming blast.
She’s had her eye on
this
for such a long time.
this
for such a long time.
Patient in her passion.
Hungry for a blood sacrifice.
“Your freedom enslaves me,”
she lies and whispers to herself.
Hungry for a blood sacrifice.
“Your freedom enslaves me,”
she lies and whispers to herself.
Liberty, look at your wayward
daughter,
wanderlust-consumed child.
daughter,
wanderlust-consumed child.
See her finger tighten,
squeeze down
over the trigger.
squeeze down
over the trigger.
The eagle rings above.
Its shadow rings below.
“He has no right!
And it is such a simple
thing, ending this breath,
taking this life.
Hardly a life at all.
Little more
than an automaton.
He deserves not
this glorious flight.
He asked for it,
demanded this,
with every flap
of its broad, bright
ignorant wings.”
And it is such a simple
thing, ending this breath,
taking this life.
Hardly a life at all.
Little more
than an automaton.
He deserves not
this glorious flight.
He asked for it,
demanded this,
with every flap
of its broad, bright
ignorant wings.”
Liberty, look to your fallen
daughter,
bloodlust-consumed child.
daughter,
bloodlust-consumed child.
She’s forgotten herself.
Sees
not what she’s become.
Sees
not what she’s become.
America, hero
in her own mistaken mind,
in her own twisted heart,
takes her time,
aims true,
aims falsely.
in her own mistaken mind,
in her own twisted heart,
takes her time,
aims true,
aims falsely.
Ends an icon.
Nathan Wade Calley is an educator living and working in Brownsville, TX.
