photo by Timothy Fadek

the con job
by Charles Bukowski

the ground war began today
at dawn
in a desert land
far from here.

the U.S. ground troops were
largely
made up of
Blacks, Mexicans and poor
whites
most of whom had joined
the military
because it was the only job
they could find.

the ground war began today
at dawn
in a desert land
far from here
and the Blacks, Mexicans
and poor whites
were sent there
to fight and win
as on tv
and on the radio
the fat white rich newscasters
first told us all about
it
and then the fat rich white
analysts
told us
why
again
and again
and again
on almost every
tv and radio station
almost every minute
day and night
because
the Blacks, and Mexicans
and poor whites
were sent there
to fight and win
at dawn
in a desert land
far enough away from
here.