mark s kuhar

"alphasalam (first peace)"

before the coming of aircraft carriers & fighter jets that slice
clouds in half in furious sorties, alphasalam (first peace.)

before generals & soldiers crease the desert with tank
tracks in the name of oil, alphasalam (first peace.)

before the infrastructure heaves up flame & debris
like a volcano explodes inside out, alphasalam (first peace.)

before body parts litter the highway like mcdonalds
hamburger wrappers & cups, alphasalam (first peace.)

before families huddle in the ruins of bomb shelters
desperate for food & safety, alphasalam (first peace.)

before chemicals erode the vast fabric of life in teeming
markets of vegetables & brass, alphasalam (first peace.)

before body bags line the airport tarmac draped with
lonely crumpled american flags, alphasalam (first peace.)

before a mercy of stars disappears behind the smoke &
clouds of destroyed cities, alphasalam (first peace.)

before hot metal rains down upon the earth like pieces of
a shuttle flight gone wrong, alphasalam (first peace.)

before boots stomp through doors & rifle butts crash
into the white of skull bone, alphasalam (first peace.)

before bloodlust is enacted to fuel the political aims
of tiny men with a power fetish, alphasalam (first peace.)

before spires of tall minarets & domes of giant cathedrals
implode in holy piles upon civilization, alphasalam (first peace.)

before the children of america feel the reprisal of terrorists
seeking revenge for carpet bombs & missiles, alphasalam (first peace.)

repeat this until it becomes the music of pure consciousness
like breath & heartbeat resonates, alphasalam (first peace.)

say it with me in mutual chorus, ferocious & expanding
so that our words become flesh & reason & experience

alphasalam (first peace.) alphasalam (first peace.)
alphasalam
alphasalam
alphasalam

 

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