The dawn is breaking

A swift wind that colors the trees

Ripples the leaves

And disappears like a whisper in the dark

Comes only as a steadfast reminder

That you are oceans away

A man steps out of a jet plane

Flight suit, white hair

Helmet tucked under is arm

“The war is over” he declares

But that’s not right because

Well, you’re still over there

I turn on the TV and I see

One more has died today

And I pray to God who doesn’t hear

The words I say as I beg

“Please don’t let it be

My brother.”

If God is so loving, then why

Why are you still fighting?

Why are people still dying?

And why haven’t you come

To my home where it’s safe

And the war is a primetime special?

I can’t take this anymore

Every day when I walk the streets

And I look at the newspaper

And I whisper aloud, “God, why?

Why another soldier? Why?”

And the stares turn my way

A woman holding her baby asks, “What?”

And I simply reply, “Damn this war.”

She scowls and say, “This war,

Is the doings of your kind

What do you care if another

American dies?”

“My brother is there, in Iraq,” I say

Trying to keep my cool, but shit

It’s hard when I know that the color

Of my skin, and the clothes

I wear on my back and head

Mark me as a terrorist’s friend

“Is he…” She begins to say

A glare is shot her way and she bites

Hard on her loose tongue

And diverts her judging eyes

But I know what question she has

And I answer, “No.”

No, he’s not a terrorist, and

No, he’s not American, and

No, he’s not Christian, he’s Islamic

Like the rest of my family

The first generation here

And yes, he is fighting

Armed with weapons to kill

To survive the attacks of a greedy

Selfish man who order the troops

Like pawns in chess to capture

The land that will help him to advance

Yes, he is shooting his weapons

And yes, he’s probably killed

But no, he’s not evil

He is my brother.

And yes, damnit, he is Arab.

And he’s no different that you.