We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.
-Dick Cheney
They envied us so
the butterflies
our beauty and lightness
envied us almost to madness
it seemed
we prayed for them
as mercy does
drank their wine
and broke their bread
still they envied us so
we were by righteousness
compelled
and rousted the butterflies
out of their beds
cursed their wives
and cut off their heads
dragged the butterflies
out of their homes
burned their wings
while their children watched
and prayed for them
as righteous do
they envied us still
to madness it seemed
then homeward we marched
in beauty and lightness
we left them on pins
and bowed our heads
when the butterflies screamed.