holy cow

in Mecca there is a holy place
built by Ibrahim
toward which all Islam bows to pray
around which is built a giant mosque.

in Jerusalem Jews and Christians
pilgrimage from afar to wail
upon the last wall from a long
gone temple to the Lord.

The three faiths which have salted
the fields of hope
and burned the dreams of men.

The three faiths which spread anger,
hypocrisy and hate -- and support them
like a three legged stool.

Sometimes I wonder if perhaps
the symbol of hope is really
the golden arches
that bring food and small jobs
to the needy everywhere they go

no hate
no anger

katsup
sometimes cheese

and the ice cold strawberry shake
pink.

instead of all that red blood flowing
into the gutters
and the black smoke of the fires that
burn after the carbombs have killed
another innocent soul because
he bowed in the wrong direction.