THE CARETAKER OF THE PALM TREE

Wearing a flowing purple workman's robe

water beaker in hand

he anoints the baby palm

with the gift of splashing water

and mutters ancient Arabic verse

to spook nearby infidel chatter as

winds topple his shadow

over his erratic footsteps

forceful impressions dissipating

through the freshly-mown Halliburton grass

Portrait of Saddam Hussein at the U.S. Camp Cropper Prison in Baghdad 2004

Thought for the Day: Was America's invasion of Iraq in 2003 the beginning of ISIS?