by George Held
Lucky America , independent since 1776
Unlucky Afghanistan , ever dependent
America , land of the brave and free
Afghanistan , land of the brave and captive
America , from Atlantic to Pacific,
A bridge between Mexico and Canada
Afghanistan , landlocked,
A bridge between Iran and China
America , home of Joseph Smith,
Mary Baker Eddy, and Pat Robertson
Afghanistan , home of Zoroaster
And bulwark of the Caliphate
America , land of the Tea Party
Afghanistan , land of the Taliban
Contradistinctions and contradictions
Mark these four-syllable words that start with “A”
Yet Americans fight and die
For President Hamid Karzai
On another Fourth of July
And who’s to answer why?
George Held has collected many of his New Verse News poems in The News Today.
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