The Coalition Authority Explains Democracy to the Iraqi People

deadline poet

By Calvin Trillin

This article appeared in the June 7, 2004 edition of The Nation.

May 20, 2004

We'll give you back the country soon.
Your leaders at the end of June
Will be there democratically.
We'll let you know soon who they'll be.

Democracy is on the way.
We smashed this place to free it.
Democracy is on the way.
You'll know it when you see it.

Your press is free forever, but
The papers we were forced to shut
Should know, when all is said and done,
It's free, though not for everyone.

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About Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation's "deadline poet." He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1963 and has written the syndicated weekly column "Uncivil Liberties" since 1986. He has authored many, many books, including Tepper's Not Going Out and Deadline Poet: My Life as a Doggerelist. more...
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