Friday's Children by Afzal Moolla

West Eats Meat***

Silently,

slicing the sky,

a Predator on the prowl.

Searching,

through human eyes,

miles away at HQ.

Picking up the signs

fresh meat on the ground,

scanning heat signatures,

confirmation reaches the bird,

sixteen high-value targets,

on the move,

in the cool desert night.

An order is given,

the Predator banks left,

steadies itself,

while sharpening its claws.

With a whoosh,

the Predator belches,

its payload strikes the HVT's.

"Target destroyed,"

a cheer goes up,

miles away at HQ.

The smoke clears,

silence returns,

while,

5 men,

4 women,

7 children,

stir no more,

late for the feast,

as the bride lies cold,

and dead,

on the dunes.

"mission accomplished."

Copyright © 2012 by Afzal Moolla

*** with special thanks to Pandit Ravi Shankar's extraordinary composition "West eats Meat".