Villanelle for George W. Bush

When thoughtful men wage holy war
And civic stream is damned in tears
We all become death's haggard whore.

To service his great need for gore
We suckle youth on time-tipped spears
When thoughtful men wage holy war.

The reason's nothing - just the score;
See how the enemy now fears.
We all become death's haggard whore.

God's on our side, his favored shore;
Brute harvest of the fertile years
When thoughtful men wage holy war

And hunger for the winning lore
Ghosts shriek in virgin outraged ears -
We all become death's haggard whore

And spread our bloodied legs for more
As sanctimony panting nears
When thoughtful men wage holy war
We all become death's haggard whore.

(C)2003,Sandy Bieler