A poem about the haunted war correspondent Paul Watson
This poem is from Dan O’Brien’s 'New Life,' which is now available.
This poem is from Dan O’Brien’s New Life, which is now available. (You might remember that a coupla years ago, I did an item on his previous book.)
The War Reporter Paul Watson Describes His Character
Feeling like a dead guest on a talk show
This poem is from Dan O’Brien’s New Life, which is now available. (You might remember that a coupla years ago, I did an item on his previous book.)
The War Reporter Paul Watson Describes His Character
Feeling like a dead guest on a talk show
Couch with more dead guests and a dead host who
Entertain a studio audience
of the dead, all for the invisible
dead who watch at home. But sometimes at night
he’ll still dream of life. With so many friends
gone — what could be the reason? His penance
is reporting, but redemption will come
from dropping out, giving up, whenever
he finds the courage.
Image credit: CB Editions
More from Foreign Policy

Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.

It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.

Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.

Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.