Osama

Now that I have your attention

I would like to say a few words.

How else could I make you concentrate

for more than fifteen minutes?

I have been steeped in injustice

for a thousand years: there is purity

in hatred that has been distilled so long.

I drink it in like alcohol. My Islam had thirsted

until you came here for your precious oil

and made these dry bones live. You have spent

so much creating me. Like Dr Frankenstein

you had imagined I might serve

your purposes: you found the raw material

and put the parts together like a bomb.

I have studied you carefully.

You have much confidence in your devices.

I trust in Allah. We will see

which of us has invested the most wisely.

I do not have much left to do: a threat,

a message on videocassette. You provide

your media to complete my task, herding

the army of submitted ones to me.

Find me, if you can. Blow me away

and my seeds will make a thousand more of me.

I was the wind you sowed.

Now I am the whirlwind you will reap.

© Godfrey Rust
May be freely reproduced for non-commercial purposes.
godfrey@wordsout.co.uk