The Red Baron's Training, The Red Baron's Triumph Poem by Raj Dronamraju

First they bathed him taking turns with the soaping up and scrubbing down
Dressed him in a powered wig and monogrammed robe
Allowing him to live like a king for the evening
The only unking-like aspect of the experience was his nightly sleep disturbances
Disturbed by the sound of airplanes, gunfire, yelling, explosions
He tosses and turns and shoves aside his choice of concubine

You can submit to a litmus test where they ask for your honest opinion
They play like being your friend but their face turns serious as soon as they get what they want
For the celebrations of iron and upcoming violence must be greeted with total compliance
It's patriotic to review the comic book exploits of the nationally designated hero
This way to the stable endorsed grooming for a killing machine
This way to the gladiator spectacle we hide under the catch-all "war"

I know that when you are dead, you won't really be dead
I know this instinctively the way I know my favorite color is red
What's wrong with my ideal? , a person whose life and mortality cease to be as important next to the symbol
For all intents and purposes, he becomes a pied piper
For posters and statues sell the image of glory over blood and guts
When young people die, we who are weaned on this toast our country