All That Remains

Somewhere there's a Master Sergeant who watched Iraqi oil being loaded on a tanker While Bush denied we went to war for decayed riches. How's that for misguided love affairs We stripped Iraq down to her bare essentials Made her sign a pre-nup and dumped her body in a trunk. We sped away fast. A honeymoon undestined to last. We say the past is the past but I wonder why it lingers like lingerie and Abu Ghraib photos. The smell of garbage lying in alley gutters sweat’s scent mixed with her Frankincense Sounds of gunfire, from a wedding party maybe? Her hijab slightly ripped as she fought to retain her gift. that oily residue left in my mouth from absconded kisses dearly departed bliss Iraqi stains, are all that remain