THE BATTLE FOR BAGHDAD=


BAGHDAD


Determined though scared, I walk my beat,
On the deadly streets of Baghdad.
Searching for any who plot our harm,
Or by our death are joyous and glad.

Standing in shadows caused by the moon,
I'm reminded of my nights back home.
I wonder if the woman I love
Is growing tired of sleeping alone?

I feel remorse for all who live here,
For this place is a madman's hell.
And those who wish to keep it that way
Must be killed or locked away in jail.

My greatest fear is not my death,
But that I'll end up in a wheelchair.
Disabled for the rest of my life,
Depending on others for my care.

My wife, she prays for my safe return,
As night and day more GI's are killed.
She knows quite well, whatever it takes,
The oath I've given will be fulfilled.


SADDAM


The king of Baghdad has fallen,
Never to dictate again.
Man shall sentence him for this crimes,
And heaven shun him for his sin.

For his tyranny, he was famous,
In every capital on earth.
'Till apprehended in his spider hole,
Completely stripped of his worth.

He is guilty of rape and genocide,
While he ruled without remorse.
His power and prestige were toppled;
Once George Bush set his course.

Though it may seem that the wicked triumph,
And have conquered by their brutality of hand,
Through the power of faith "They are defeated,"
By the seed of goodness in man.



FREEDOM


In their new uniforms,
The young march off
Not knowing who shall return.
With a proud devotion,
They brandish their flag
Leaving loved ones to wonder and yearn.

May we all be buried
By all of our children
Is an ancient tribal prayer.
They're so easy to lose
But so hard to forget;
Such a burden for a parent to bear.

Oh, the taste of victory
Shall soon be forgotten;
But, never that which was lost.
For those rows of white headstones
In peaceful green fields,
Make it easy to tally the cost.

America has survived all attempts to destroy
Knowing the cruelty of war,
And, we who remain
Must help keep her free
For those who can march no more.


WAR


As war is fought it takes charge,
And events spin out of control.
The madness of men can alter the soil
Which nourishes the roots of their soul.

Many things will forever change,
Far more then wished to be.
As the wrath of war starts to destroy,
Those things we fight to keep free.

War is the greatest plague of man,
Religion, state, and sanity.
Any scourge is more preferred,
Than the one which disables humanity.

When war breaks out, boundaries change
And all who die are a token,
Of the rage that must run it's course,
Before words of peace are spoken.


DADS AT WAR


Where would I be without you dad?
My hero of night and day
I'm so glad you love my mother,
And take time for us each day.

The last time we played baseball,
You reached for me with your hand.
I looked at you, then made a wish,
That I might be just half the man.

I love my father of this earth,
And I love my father of heaven.
It's a lot for me to love, you know,
For I'm only eleven.

Mom and I sure miss you,
Since you left to defend our flag.
When others ask, where is your dad?
I can't help but boast and brag.


TEARS


Tears are the raindrops of the soul
And there's one for all who die.
They are the silent words of grief
As they fall free from the eye.

The shortest verse in the Bible
Is the one where Jesus wept;
So, if you hold back tears, "shed them"
When your pains too harsh to accept.

Tears are lovelier than a smile
When they come from those you love.
As they seek relief from sadness,
When you're summoned from above.

Tears are a love-mates humble gift
When it's time to say goodbye,
Though the eyes are wet and swollen,
With time and patience they dry.


BRAVERY


Many brave souls lived before now,
Unwept and unknown by their face.
Lost somewhere in the distant night,
'Till a poet chronicles their grace.

True bravery is shown by performing,
Without witness, what one might be
Capable of before the world,
Without any or all to see.

How great the brave who rest in peace,
All blessings from heaven to earth.
They gave our country but their best,
Those destined to be brave from birth.


THE MURDEROUS HAND OF MAN


War I hate, though not men, flags nor race,
But war itself with its ugly face.
When we lose faith in the brave, which die,
Then we're not fit to greet those who cry.

What distinguishes war isn't death,
But that man is slain by fellow man.
Crushed by cruelty and injustice,
With his enemy's murderous hand.

War tends to punish the punishers,
So the losers won't suffer alone.
The essence of war is but violence,
Till the survivors come marching home.


OUR FLAG


Our flag is fabric wove of thread,
Carried by heroes live and dead.
She stands for justice and courage too,
With her colors; red, white and blue.

For all who serve her, there'll be cheers,
For any who die, there'll be tears,
For all who love her, life is swell,
For those who harm her, war is hell.

How many moms have cried before,
As they sent their children to war.
How many dads have not returned,
Because our freedom must be earned.

Wars were waged where brave men died
As patriots fought side by side.
Our flag is still the pearl of earth,
Because of those who prove her worth.


FORMIDABLE FOE


America is the birthday cake of earth,
As the ants march from every direction.
Thank God for all who have sworn to defend her,
Serving with love, honor, pride, and affection.

Since the first day George Washington marched off to war,
There have been those who have wished our demise.
Their hatred, fueled by jealousy and greed,
Was defeated by our brave and the wise.

Once again, we must face a formidable foe,
Who have pledged by their God to destroy us all
Misusing their faith as an excuse to kill,
As for a worldwide jihad, their leaders call.

Some say we should try to appease them,
For if we resist, they'll hate us even more.
But the David's among us shall cast our stones,
Defeating them, as it was done before.


SOMETIMES


I'm a soldier, who fights on foreign soil,
Some say, we're here, because of oil.
But, I'll do my duty and proudly serve;
Knowing death may await me around the curve.

Sometimes it's hard to defend what's right,
Sometimes we're forced to rise up and fight.
Sometimes we survive, while others must die,
Sometimes never knowing the reason why.

The rush of combat is a natural buzz,
Caused by fear, leaving nothing as it was.
Hunting one another like wild game,
Without a shortage of those to blame.

Sometimes victory comes to slow or quick
Sometimes the cost on both sides is sick.
Sometimes God is asked to intervene,
To help stop the savage from being so mean.

War is a hell we visit before death
Fueled by the whisper of the devil's breath.
There must be a reason man destroys man,
But why it is so, I can't understand.



PEACE


The people of earth face many problems,
Struggling to make their living and maintain peace.
There are differences in language, faith and race,
With misguided hate unwilling to cease.

To solve these problems that plague mankind,
Man must strive as never before.
Demanding justice with truth in settling disputes,
While recalling with pain, the casualties of war.

War is an emotional release for man,
Practiced since the first stones were cast.
Could it be nature's way of thinning the numbers,
As the fallen are consumed by the past.

May the future show mercy on all who survive,
With their visions of innocence forever lost.
Prayerfully, someday man will cease wagging war,
Avoiding through peace it's consequence and cost.



SHOULD TOMORROW START WITHOUT ME


Should tomorrow start without me
Remember I love you.
Looking down from up above
Seeing everything you do.

If I become a casualty
I pray you will love again
Whom ever makes you happy
I'll consider my friend.

Should tomorrow start without me
Remind our boys, God loves all who care.
And when life seems too harsh and cruel
With "Him" they must share their prayer.

I have proven I'm not a coward
Who breaks and runs to survive.
Always fearing death will kiss me
As the streets of Baghdad I drive.

Should tomorrow start without me
Be proud I choose to serve.
Our faith and our patriotism
Earn the freedom we deserve.

I miss home more than ever
It breaks my heart to stay away
I can't help but want to hold you
And whisper what I say.


SHOULDER TO SHOULDER


Americans harmonize in sentiment
While facing the challenges of life.
Shoulder to shoulder we defined our land
Through hardship, sacrifice and strife.

We are eager to oppose our enemies
Wherever they raise their head.
Our principles must be practiced
To avoid being conquered or dead.

We fail to see the merits of a dictator
Only freedom to work and pray as we please.
Most seek guidance from a higher power
As we share our concerns on our knees.

We have always held liberty close to our hearts
Unwilling to surrender to demise.
Whenever its existence was threatened
We have chosen to follow the wise.


We can't foresee what the future may bring
Though we give it our best not to fail.
Every 4th of July we illuminate the sky
Proving freedom is alive and well.


AMERICAN SOLDIER


Our soldiers line up to be remembered
As the best of the best at their job.
They wish to be needed and depended on
To save all we love from the mob.

They risk their life and limb for liberty
Standing firm against evil unwilling to break.
To be part of something greater than themselves
They are willing to sacrifice whatever it will take.


THE LONELINESS OF WAR


I know I'm still here so far, far away,
As I fight for what I believe is right.
I wonder about you and your mom,
Every moment of every day and night.

The loneliness of war can drive you insane,
If you don't get letters of concern from home.
Left, right, behind and ahead,
Death awaits leaving love ones alone.

We pray to God that we will be saved
To return home or live the here after.
Bloody, dirt-covered men, we see everyday,
As we yearn for those times of laughter.

The far off stare of a fallen comrade,
As you stay by his side till his end.
No mother ever carried her infant child,
More carefully, than we do a friend.

Many have their own personal diaries,
To help keep their faculties together.
Watching hot steel crash into human flesh,
Always make home seem far away and better.

I've become an expert at dodging, weaving and diving,
So try not to worry too much about me.
Just help your mom and stand up from the ground,
And while I'm gone be all you can be.


THE WORLD OF MAN


The world of man stays the same
The clowns who run it are to blame.
The seed of goodness was placed on earth
For man to prove his heavenly worth.

An ongoing conflict between love and hate
As losers mislead and procrastinate.
Hallelujah for heroes that step from the line.
Facing down evil with goodness of mind.

Prevailing by kindness and concern for others
Making us feel as though they were our brothers.
Like beasts of the night feasting on souls
The soldiers of darkness rise from their holes.

We'll greet them with faith and a willingness to fight
Never fearing to defend what's right.



MYSTICAL JOURNEY


Children identify with our fears
Where adults share our dreams.
Life is a mystical journey
With laughter, sadness and schemes.

A never-ending quest of struggle
Where everyone has their role.
Sometimes wrong, sometimes right,
Facing problems, which take their toll.

Even the beautiful someday shall fade
As year after year they grow old.
With aches, pains, wrinkles and grief
The answers of a lifetime unfold.

How long will we be remembered
For better or for worse?
For being tender and understanding
Or just another person's curse.

Truthful and honest with family or friends
Staying clear of any who lie or sneak?
Guarding against actions selfish, and cruel
Free to be generous and unique?

After death who will miss us
When to heaven we have gone?
Will family cry our name in tears
As in their hearts we live on?


All Poems By Tom Zart
Author Of
LOVE WAR AND MORE
Most Published Poet
On The Web

__________________

Wise men learn more from watching fools
Than fools do from watching wise men.
I should know for I've been both.
I can 't believe how lucky I've been.

Something I really ought to do sometime soon is to go on a nice little lecture tour of the US. I could schedule myself at women's clubs, houses of worship, the odd Marriot; nothing too large, I think, as I'd want to keep the setting intimate. I've got a few skills as a speaker, and I don't despair of persuading a person or two. I'll title my lecture, "There Is No Such Thing as a "Best School"; There Is Only the "Best School for You"

Where I tutor, HarvardYalePrinceton is one word, and is usually the first answer when you ask "So where are you thinking of applying, if you have an idea yet?" I always have to ask,(because I do have a mean streak)"Why Harvard? What about it appeals to you?"

"Oh, well, it's the best. It opens doors. And you can network." This answer is so very common. I have never seen Harvard, so I amuse myself with a surreal picture of a campus done in Georgian Architecture in Technicolor with doors in the unlikeliest of places -- in a tree trunk, in a cloud formation indicated by nothing but a knob in crystal, between one building and the next -- populated by people who attach elastic strings to one another and yet are able to make it to a class or two during the semester.

Sometimes I do get a different answer. An occasional student will announce that a smaller, less known place is right for him or her. In those cases, the explanation goes, "Well, I had a chance to take a summer course there, and I liked the campus and the professor, and the students there were really cool." It might be a variation on that theme. The student might have spent a weekend. She might have done a search or read a brochure. Invariably, the student had an interest, possibly a passion, and that school loved her or him for her talent and spirit and wanted to do its best to nurture that talent, spirit, passion.

Oh happy student. I wish they all could be so lucky.

At no time did that student talk of the prestige, the familial legacy, the opportunity to meet the right sort of people. He spoke only of what he and the college could do together. She spoke only of how happy she was to be in such a place. When I think of my one alum, Evan, who did such a search and found such a place, I drop a tear or two. His mother knew that her son had learning differences and respected them. They found a school that would also respect them and my boy has straight A's and does wonderful things with that school community. No one dumbs a thing down for him, before you out with that little meanness. They just encourage him to use strategies that make the work as do-able for him as it is for anyone else.

I think of other families and their determination to have their children be in any prestigious school, regardless of fit, and wonder how they can treat children that way. A child strictly instructed to hide her dyslexia in shame so she can "network" at a private day school will not learn to cope, will not "get over" the differences that make a printed page a vision of hell for her. At a school designed and structured for children with learning differences, a specialist will teach her strategies and let her learn to love information and respect her own qualities and abilities, and thus she finds the path to "the best schools".

Maybe even to Harvard. I hear they do have some good courses there.

My lecture will be brilliant. I will dream out loud of a world where all talents and passions are given their due respect. I will exhort parents to look at the beautiful individuals they've been lent by Whatever Higher Power that Exists Out There, and to seek out the schools that will respect what they have to give back to the world. I will lance at one stroke the inflated blivvet of vanity, assumption and prejudice that says that there are a few "top tier" schools where only the elite may go, and that the rest are barely adequate institutions where one might maunder about fecklessly for a few years before trying to find a place in middle management.

If I am lucky, one or two people might listen. They might suddenly take a good look at their offspring and say "but what can he really do? what does she really want?" They might even watch a man walking along the side of the highway to his second (or third) job and say "Thank God, for without him I'd have nothing in my house or on my plate". Or they might look at a young woman behind a cash register and think, "God bless her, for she does a needed task and does it with a smile."

My lecture would be quite satisfying in one respect. I'd stop feeding that puffed-up blivvet with the vanity of a three digit number that is supposed to confirm that there is an inherent "something" about the student that makes him or her more worthy of better education. I'd at least be doing something to make it more possible that we'd really look at what better education is, and resolve to offer it to anyone who would like to have it.