[Newspoetry] Demolition Derby-Metaphor of Policy

[Mike Lehman]

It all starts with a patriotic song
And, of course, a flag
Then descends into mayhem
Random violence
Without any particular point
Except to win

Bam! Crash! Roar-r-r-r!
Smoke, sparks and flames
More flags waving
Lots of yelling
>From the announcer/war correspondent
Cheers from the crowd

In the end
Nothing but scrap metal
Feelings of ennui
Wrapped in the thrill
Of surviving such
Deadly violence

There are really no winners
For all the money spent
Except the junk man
And the capitalist
Who sold it all
In the beginning
The yin and yang
Of our daily existence.