Everyday soldier
War is real estate
land taken by force
defended as one's own
only to be lost
eventually retaken
sometimes every day
who claims their share
there's no escaping
the made-up stories
we tell ourselves
you them we share in fantasy
each bed sleeping
while some are lying
there are no dreams
they say history is written
by those who win
for a time that trick is ticked
gives shelter from the storm
but at sea you see
who's hand tills Gericault's raft
so it seems stories go
each one a work of art
their inspiration
honed all day
a thing carved too well
makes everybody high
and proud enough to scrape
vain courage
belief in blind devotion
to battlefield memorials
so they too
go to war
defending some old ground
that's always shaken
while music plays the grand entres
stages painted the actors decorated
words contrive some old reason
everyday logic follows
we must do the same
image: Invasion / synthetic polymer on paper / A3 x 2 JSkewes 2003
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