copyright © 2003 John Shirley
Jihad: 2003
by John Shirley
Lights up on speaker, preferably male (and perhaps even in contemporary U.S. military uniform or fatigues) who delivers the following in an angry, rhythmic fashion, attempting to maintain a constant, slightly accelerated pace until the last two lines, which should be delivered slowly and with a hint of hope.
armageddon looms
like terrorists’ threats.
rich men. poor men.
beggar men. thieves.
iraq. america.
patriot games.
we are all targets.
call it religion.
bludgeon the dove with
old holy relics
and pieces of shame.
consume its flesh
and tear out the brains.
set the feathers on fire.
watch innocence burn.
break olive branches
to gouge out its eyes.
choke on your pride, and
burn what remains.
brothers are corpses,
victims of vengeance.
al qaeda? oil?
blood on the water,
looking for answers.
the present life is
but a diversion.
too young to fight,
children are broken,
killed by our politics,
and man is witness
unto his own deeds.
fathers are broken,
children of vengeance,
hoping that god
will welcome the damned.
innocents dying,
crying for justice.
horizons burning.
blood on the soil.
measure the carnage.
sacrifice. worship.
call upon allah,
but know that he can’t
save men from themselves.
mothers are corpses,
victims of vengeance,
fighting with shadows.
too young to hate,
babies are broken;
do they see jesus?
put away your shame.
judge not lest ye be
judged. thou shalt not kill.
islam meets the cross:
blood in the desert,
thirsting for mercy.
sisters are corpses,
victims of vengeance.
strangle the dove with
a rich crucifix
and pieces of chain.
eat all the flesh and
tear out the brains.
set the feathers on fire.
watch helplessness burn.
break olive branches
to gouge out its eyes.
choke on your flag, and
burn what remains.
fires are burning,
writhing in chaos,
begging for silence.
dead men. dying men.
suffering. pain.
america. iraq.
patriot schemes.
let every soul look
upon the morrow.
put away the hate.
put away the pain.
"Jihad: 2003" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
"Jihad: 2003" debuted at No Shame Goes To War (Los Angeles) on March 8, 2003. Directed by J.J. Hickey, with the following cast:
J.J. Hickey and Dave BermanPerformed at No Shame Goes To War (Charlottesville), on March 21, 2003, performed by John Shirley.
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