The Good Soldier

The Good Soldier


A man who likes to give things thought

Should not have let himself be caught

By those who, when they're near the brink,

Prefer to act instead of think.

But Colin Powell got suckered in,

And now can't wash away the sin,

The made-up casus belli taint,

That tars the man who preached restraint.


If fools rush in where angels fear

To shift past first or second gear,

Then Powell by nature joins the gods

While George Bush contemplates the odds

Of where his shoot-first style might lead.

Except, complicit in the deed

To make sure Baghdad was attacked,

Powell played the fool - and still got sacked.


Blame loyalty, the soldier's curse,

A good man serving those much worse,

But don't send Colin your regrets -

Some years ago he placed his bets

And skipped the Democratic queue

To cast his lot with W.

A soldier knows: Live by the sword,

And soon you'll find yourself being gored.
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Poetic Justice by John Allemang

The Globe and Mail
Saturday, November 20, 2004

[Edited on Nov 20, 2004 by Pauillac]