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Tuesday, May 30, 2006

THREE FOUND STANZAS


1. TO KNOW


We know
what a disarmed regime looks like. We know
what it means to disarm. There's no
negotiations.

--George W. Bush, Bush-Blair Press Conference, 31 January 2003


2. TO COMPREHEND

It's important to recall
how we got there
and take stock
on how far we've come
over the last three years. The violence and bloodshed in Iraq
has been difficult
for the civilized world
to comprehend.

--George W. Bush, Bush-Blair Press Conference, 25 May 2006


3. TO MAKE SENSE

What makes the deaths of Paul Douglas and James Brolan
and the dreadful wounds suffered by Kimberly Dozier worthy
of more than a mention
is not merely that they were colleagues,
companions and friends, but that they died
and were hurt
trying to make sense
of all the other deaths and maimings
which have no names,
no stories about which we care,
even if we ought to do so.

--Alan Pizzey, CBS News, 29 May 2006