The leeches of the military industry crave

fresh blood. Directors do not read poetry.

There’s no reason – their children won’t go

to the trenches. Their servants, the party leaders,

take care of it all. They don’t read poetry either.

No need! They rule by the magic of fear, and

no one will object to taking from schools or

cutting funds for healthcare.

Patriotism is a benign tumor that constantly

strives to return to its natural state. The Minister

of Defense has been promoted to Minister of

Offense. No one reads poetry, what did the wife

of the soldier get from the vast land of Russia?*

At an emergency government session the living

force has been increased from the modest twenty-five

to an imposing two hundred fifty thousand graves.

          *Bertold Brecht, What Did the Soldier’s Wife Receive?

Translated by Esma Hadžiselimović

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