When I was in the third grade
I didn’t know why
Boundaries couldn’t be changed
And treaties signed
But the outcome of… See More
The Olympics.

Why did it have to be
Bombs?
And hacked-up bodies?
And women raising children
With dead fathers?

Why did it have to be flies
Laying eggs
In the open wounds
Of soldiers?

Why did it have to be
Good men
Sleeping with whores
And doing drugs
Just to make it through…
And becoming callous?

Why did it have to be
Men shooting at the sounds
Of cars backfiring in the alley
With the night sweats
Tossing and turning
In their soft beds – stateside,
Forever
After being a part of IT.

It’s a simpler world
For a third-grader.
At least with the Olympics
There is a sure winner.