Comanches

Theirs was the Empire
Of the summer moon,
When they raided from
Northwest Texas as far
South as Guatemala using
Moonlight to ride invisibly
Across lawyer’s boundaries.
Made fierce by the harshness
Of their prairie home they
Raided for horses, children
And young women because
To survive as a tribe they
Needed to replace losses
And keep mobile by hoof.
Mercy had no place on
A raid though at home
Comanches made
Captives into
Family if
They
Were brave.
If not, no
Mercy was shown.
Americans today do the same
With the children and young
Women south of our border
Even past Guatemala,
Their fate rests on
Their bravery
And our
Need
For cheap
Labor to exploit
Though we do
Make them
Family
Sometimes.
It is said, poor
Mexico, so far from
God, so close to
The United States,
And our empire
Of the border
Moonlight.