Uninvited Guests

 

The men who were our neighbours were here.

They casually called on the off chance we were home,

Looking for us to introduce them to our families.

They found our hiding places and made themselves known.

 

The men who spend bullets were here.

They scattered ammunition like loose change,

Falling from bottomless pockets onto bloodied earth.

They nourished the soil whilst dispensing death.

 

The men who deal in misery were here.

They burnt our books and killed our school,

Leaving its corpse daubed with propaganda.

They stole student hearts, while maiming their minds.

 

The men who consume spirits were here.

They drunkenly stole pleading souls,

Forcing false confessions of non-existent crimes.

They executed the sentences with intoxicated smiles.

 

The men who teach history were here.

They showed us the error of our beliefs,

Introducing new heroes and icons for us to worship.

They love our compliance and we bow our heads.