Stanza 89

The Village and the Base   The Arrival   The Dawn Prayer   The Dilemma   American Hospitality   The Diatribes   Iraqi Hospitality   The Departure   The Murder   The Apology   The Burial   The Militant   The Armament   The Disease   The Sacrilege   The Sacrilege Rebuilt   The Passion Play   The Massacre   The Ambush   The Battle Ends   The Tenth Moves On   The Miracle   Epilogue   Glossary

<<       <       >       >> 89 Now Qasim's father and his family All gather round the corpse in misery And vent their anguish in discordant tones. They aren't surprised the infidel condones The awful murder of their relative, But can not understand repetitive Attempts to prove the most ridiculous Untruths were credible. The spurious Defense the colonel gave exacerbates The pain they feel and it humiliates Them. While the people give their sorrow voice, Religious obligation leaves no choice But to make haste to cleanse and purify The corpse. They wonder if they can rely Upon the pumps and cisterns to provide Sufficient water so the boy who died Can be prepared for proper burial. The import of this ceremonial Ablution is so great despair and hope Envelop them, and they can barely cope. <<       <       >       >>