Life Falling on Soldiers

by Nick Jaina

here in this hegemony
I lay my arms down for everybody
for those stuck in motels
for those trapped under the inkwell

I feel I played a part in
the breaking of consumer hard-ons
and though they’ve changed the rules
I’ve felt okay since I left high school

and the principal thing
that I wanted to say
is the very same thing
that they airbrushed away
we want boys who are brave not just clever
we want boys who are brave not just clever

life falling on soldiers
the sky torn from the earth to the sun
like they say in their schoolbooks
“these words were written under the gun”

© 2007 Nick Jaina