A rendezvous behind the dunes,
the last kilometer covered in the
crosshairs of camouflaged allies,
blind date between enemies of the
state, a meshing of manifestos,
all contradictions brushed aside.
When the dust settles they’ll settle
old scores, confess what they have
always known, compare mistakes
and gambles, triumphs and massacres,
dividing up contaminated booty.
In this alone will there be common
cause, the chance and perhaps
of victory indulged.
After a period of rebuilding,
old symbols dusted off and rescued
from the wasteland, ruins fenced round
and made museums or nightclubs,
after respite and rehab,
the wise survivors will reconvene
to admire tans and trade family gossip
and offhand, serene, the calendar
will be consulted and a date selected
on which the killing can begin again.