In The Middle East Zoo of Arcane Objects

The above poem was inspired by the poem "The Baghdad Zoo"..posted to warriorpoets. "Is the world safer? No. It's not safer in Iraq." Hans Blix The Baghdad Zoo An Iraqi northern brown bear mauled a man on a street corner, dragging him down an alley as shocked onlookers shouted and threw stones. Tanks rolled their heavy tracks past the museum and up to the Ministry of Oil. One gunner watched a lion chase down a horse. Eaten down to their skeletons, the giraffes looked prehistoric, unreal, their necks too fragile, too graceful for the 21st Century. Dalmatian pelicans and marbled teals flew over, frightened by the rotorwash of Blackhawk helicopters touching down. One baboon escaped the city limits. It was found wandering in the desert, confused by the wind, the blowing sand of the barchan dunes. --Brian Turner Brian Turner served for seven years in the US Army and was an infantry team leader for a year in Iraq with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. This poem is from his book, Here, Bullet