Paul David Adkins
Baghdad brothers heard al-Qaeda marked V-BIEDs
with X’s of tape on car roofs, hoods—
If you spot one, run away.
Americans found such a sedan,
blew it in place with a water charge.
Doors shot open, trunk spun off,
fluttered like a tossed playing card.
When their physics teacher failed the brothers—
Some BS test—
they found his car that night.
They taped an X on top,
called the Terror Tips Line.
Americans came at dawn,
cordoned the street.
Stepping out for work, the teacher pointed—That’s my car . . .
From their window the brothers watched.
The teacher yelled—It’s not a bomb, you idiots!
The brothers fell from sight
when he screamed
That’s my fucking car!!
Paul David Adkins lives in New York and works as a counselor.
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