General Obvious

Poetry won’t feed the hungry 
Songs won’t stop the war 
That painting’s doing nothing 
to combat global warmth 

but in between the barricades 
I might steal a kiss 
just to remember what 
we’re fighting for, General Obvious 

I used to think everybody 
had rich interior lives 
that art was an aristocracy 
in which everyone could fantasize 

now that I’ve been in the trenches 
longer than I can count 
I see that the struggle starts early 
and never really stops 

now that I’m in the trenches 
with my six feet blown off 
I’d expose my lovers early 
as life begins with art