Oops.
I did it again.
This is one of the subjects of poetry,
an important subject to the poem-- of poetry
is misrepresentation and how language is inaccurate,
as well as accurate.
And this is a poem that I'm sure a couple of years
ago was being written all over the country.
This is just sort of my version of it,
and it's sort of about the misrepresentations
of bureaucratic language.
It's called "Operations."
"In autumn, Operation Enduring Freedom
commenced, which some people wanted
to call Operation Infinite Self-Indulgence.
We tied flags to the antenna of our cars
that snapped like fire when we drove.
In winter, there was Operation Gentle Sledgehammer,
which seemed linguistically a little underdigested.
But we lined up squads of second graders
to stand at attention while we beat a drum.
Let me make it clear that I was as doubtful as anyone
about Operation Racial Provocation.
But I loved Operation Religious Suspicion,
which led to Operation Eye For An Eye,
which was succeeded by Operation Helping Hand.
Let me tell you, that was a scary looking hand.
But it was also a very successful operation.
Someday, you will be required to perform a terrible deed
in order to save yourself--
to save yourself for what?
That would be a question for Operation Self-Examination
to answer, which is a very painful operation, performed
without anesthesia in a naked room full of shadows and light.
Might I perhaps suggest instead Operation Self-Medication,
or Operation Endless Mindless Distraction?
In the meantime, Operation Collateral Amnesia
is proceeding very smoothly.
When it is over, we want to call it Operation One Big Happy
Family.
Is that OK with you?"