Mark Bones
Kosovo in the Belly
When they’d decided that nothing could be done,
senior officials were enjoying a working breakfast.
They broke into a spontaneous round of applause.
When they’d agreed this meant that something must be done,
the press attaches toyed with morning coffee and cakes.
They broke into a spontaneous round of applause.
When the political planners had won their vows of action, at lunch, they broke into a spontaneous round of applause.
When the armchair generals had confirmed their own predictions ahead of the bombs, they took Earl Grey with biscuits.
They broke into a spontaneous round of applause.
When the spin-doctors told themselves prevention of violence
had never been intended, it was time to network for tea.
They broke into a spontaneous round of applause.
When the peace was finally signed, the ministers were at dinner.
They broke into a spontaneous round of applause.
And when the soldiers on the ground finally met the survivors,
they gave up half their rations, though they were hungry as well.
They all broke into a spontaneous round of sandwiches.
The silence was truly golden.
‘When they finally signed, the ministers were at dinner. They broke into a spontaneous round of applause’.
(the end of the Kosovo campaign, in the Times, June 11th 1999)
Page(s) 8
magazine list
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