On Bombings and Apologies

by Joseph G. Ramsey / April 6th, 2011

“I’m sorry,” said the captain
After killing your wife
Upon maiming your children
And wrecking your life.

“I’m sorry,” he said,
“The missile. It missed;
“I’ll certainly understand it if you feel pissed.

“That damn missile went
left
when it should have gone
right–
“–You see, it’s hard to see straight
in the middle
of the night.
“Please know that America didn’t want your kin dead;
“That missile was meant for your neighbors instead.”

Joe Ramsey is a teacher, writer, and activist residing in the Boston area. He is co-editor of Cultural Logic: an electronic journal of marxist theory and practice, as well as a board member at Socialism and Democracy, and a contributing editor to Red Wedge magazine, where this essay first appeared. He can be reached at: jgramsey@gmail.com. Read other articles by Joseph.

This article was posted on Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 at 8:00am and is filed under Militarism, Poetry, Weaponry.