
original artwork by Mariam Sawires
The Master ordered
And the Generals gave salute
And weary and worn-out men
Danced to the flute
They strapped their green cotton-armour
And funeral-black leather boots
Brides back home awaited their grooms
To walk them down the aisle in genteel charcoal suits
But mothers,
Mistresses of intuition
Saved money
And bought coffins.