Yesterday’s Armies

even yesterday there was a tomorrow but that’s today
and now yesterday has no tomorrow only something
like the days before when armies were just as foreign
as something in a foreign newspaper that (torn down†

contained news from our foreign wars that happened
days before or even some time in that crystal future’s
past – denied its presence or even a concession once
expected now overdue or lacking it’s always missing:

the beat of an army’s drum that kept it moving in time
& in a space where yesterday gunboats patrolled these
banks & outlets today container ships blast sirens or
horns to warn approaching vessels filled with armies

of mud gold & leather buckles swords & rusty cannon
shots across the bow of now (eradicated capitals that
yesterday’s tourists rebuilt desolate worn-down town
filled with flowers in upturned helmets (we surrender