Legacy

We so admired the shadow
of our vast wings upon the sands below
and on our lips a honeyed litany
extolling all those principles
we privately despise.

Wrapped in a raiment
of Hollywood solicitude
our leader thundered from two teleprompters,
then like a termite queen
disgorged a host
of anointed berserkers, untroubled by the niceties
that separate our puppets from our foes
or us;

A million anguished voices silenced, as they sought to flee
swallowed in the heaving murmur of the sea.