Middle East Tautology
       

The friend of my enemy is my enemy.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

The friend of the enemy of my enemy is my friend (once removed).

The enemy of the enemy of my enemy is my foe, unless
he is also the enemy of the friend of my enemy.

The child of the friend of my enemy has not
yet declared sides.
Does not yet know that his brother is dead.
Hides under his bed
to dull the noise of nightmares
and mortar shells.

The blood of my enemy
and the friend of my enemy
and his child
is on my hands
and the hands of my enemy
and his friends.

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Copyright © 2019 Neil Silberblatt All rights reserved
from Collateral Damage
Glass Lyre Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission