when orchids
grow wild
among forgotten land mines

when children sing of enemy mutilation
as sweet stuffed bears sit
on their neat beds

when nice ladies at the restaurant
whisper stinkhearted
about those people at the next table

when at least one of those nice ladies
owns a pink revolver and dreams now and then
of a home invasion that will give her an excuse

when that lovely blue sea
hides brown sea bed and red blood
hides terminally blue whales

when outrage easily tagged for sale
is easily diverted and easily unfocused
till it’s time to put us to bed

we are trained for contradiction
for losing the last truth in the next lie
how are we still surprised

when wherever we go
evil perches bloodied and unruffled 
upon the left hand of good