The war America wants

Makhosazana Xaba

“Ma, there’s something I don’t understand.”
I give her a quick glance
while minding the wheel,
watching rush hour traffic.
“Hmm …” I say, in a manner that says:
I’m listening.

“How can America and Iraq be at war?”
I see the frown,
quizzical, familiar.
“Hmm …” I say, in a manner that says:
I’m interested.

“Because when American soldiers
get into the plane to go to Iraq,
the soldiers in Iraq
get into the plane to go to America
so they each have no one to fight with.”

I smile,
she is ten.
I frown,
hoping wisdom reaches my lips.

Then, in typical Nala style,
hands in the air, she concludes:
“I think Americans are stupid.
They are the ones that want this war,
hey, Mama?”

I turn, give her a quick glance.
My silent look,
our mother-daughter lingo,
tells her how I feel.

I watch rush hour traffic,
minding the wheel
on our way home.

Previously published on poetsagainstthewar.org

LitNet: 31 January 2006

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