Gary Edward Geraci

Pantoum of The Maid of Orléans (La Pucelle d’Orléans)

Last night good friends came together;
Allies, warriors; God’s guidance.
“We never want to see that ghastly specter return.“
What happened in Douma crossed a red line.

Allies, warriors; God’s guidance,
Strike against an evil, barbaric foe.
What happened in Douma crossed a red line.
A grievous violation of human law.

Strike against an evil, barbaric foe
Whom cares not for the most innocent and helpless of them all.
A grievous violation of human law,
We shall render it unable to cause harm.

Whom cares not for the most innocent and helpless of them all
Is not the kind of friend just nations keep.
We shall render it unable to cause harm,
Our brave band of coalition fighters will fly.

Is not the kind of friend just nations keep
Keen to human dignity, stability, and peace?
Our brave band of coalition fighters will fly
To Damascus and the Hims-Shinsar near Homs.

Keen to human dignity, stability, and peace,
Our Dassault Rafale fighter jets flying from French frigates,
Flew to Damascus and the Hims-Shinsar near Homs
Serving SCALP cruise missiles; targets to take.

Our Dassault Rafale fighter jets flying from French frigates
And with the spirit of Saint Joan of Arc
Served SCALP cruise missiles; the targets did take.
Smart and swift victories the enemy will fear.

And with the spirit of Saint Joan of Arc;
New, modern methods to conduct a siege:
Smart and swift victories the enemy will fear;
Against brutal dictators and tyranny.

With new, modern methods to conduct a siege,
Last night good friends came together
Against brutal dictators and tyranny:
“We never want to see that ghastly specter return.“

With our allies, warriors, and God‘s guidance…

- Gary Edward Geraci