Monologue

The (small) Insanity cast listened intently as Bitten stood up.

"I've written a poem-thing...but it's in Hamlet language," she stated, glancing at her Shakepearean-speaking friend. "Would you guys mind if I practiced this? I'm going to do a soliloquy for the drama club."

"Certainly! I wouldst liketh to hear it!" Ryu exclaimed, very much failing at Old English.

"Okay, but it sucks, so...yeah. But I hopes you like it!" Bitten leapt up onto the makeshift stage (it was actually a broken refrigerator on its side) and, taking a parchment in hand, declared her speech:

America

Sad hearts and shed tears abound

For this fallen country!

Alas!

But where hast thou gone?

O great country of my fathers,

When didst thou depart

From all good tidings

And cling to the world of evil?

Wherefore didst thou supplant

God and country

For desires of heart?

Alas!

May the cursing of God

Be on this wicked country

Should it not return

To His saving Grace!

But let us give thanks

For this land overflowing with bounty

To our Maker

Who has blessed us so!

Thanks be to God!

Bitten bowed, stepping down off the stage.

Though he didn't understand all of the words, Willow felt a strange sense of patriotism. Bitten was right; what had happened? America had been so proper and honest and God-believing back in the eighteenth century. Somewhere along the line, it must have given up its values and faith. And now, where does that leave us?

For Bobby

Iraq. It's just another country, but it has changed so many lives. So many deaths have taken place there; so many families have seen their loved ones deployed to help it.

The yellow ribbon wraps around the great tree in the front yard; the flag hangs in the window.

On October 19th they stepped foot onto Middle-eastern ground, sure to return to their homes within a year if all goes well.

Nine months now.

By the grace of God, may the war in Iraq be won, and may these men come back home safely.

Dedicated to Sgt. Bobby Jackson, who has gone through so much and yet holds such strong faith in God, and who was recently deployed to Iraq for the second time. May God be with him and all the troops.