America Beautiful

the torn sky repairs
jet scream silence
searing desert diminishes
far behind the smouldering buildings
life left ruptured
stinking in the sun

her mother protected the shrapnel
her brother dead in the dust
but she still breathing
unknowing so much
at six months
and already lived so many lives

hate dictates
the gun her gospel
what will she know
of beautiful America
foreign from first breath
on a day of independence


© Richard Scutter 4 July 2006