acceptable losses

unable to fend off drones

bombs, missiles sent to destroy

an ‘enemy’ whose major offense

is swearing under his breath

or snapping at his wife when tired

from long daily labor

yet he belongs to a group deemed

hostile by policies of other men

declaring war while crowded safe

in luxury bomb shelters

who is held accountable for decisions

made in the name of others

that bring them to their deaths

as though they had say in the terror

that plunges their families

and themselves into pain.