you measure pain in glory

These nations don’t deserve you

And the many stripes you bled to get

forget the debt and moralizing,

legalizing shame

With medals, not retirement

you measure pain in glory

with a do-what-thou-must courage

and a do-or-die veneer

Two lips that never say die

And eyes that plead «don‘t look at me»

this spider-stung heart

and seafood dress

a palace painted,

built on shrieks

strolling down forbidden streets

downtrodden, not forlorn