Backhoe

~ Maguindanao


The last time I read of a backhoe 
in the news, it was used to bury 
bodies in mass graves. They were 
journalists and wives and sisters
of small-town politicians, walking 
together for safety in order to cast 
their votes. In that town, the man 
who wanted to be king (or the equivalent 
of king) ordered their massacre. He wanted 
to send a message. Though the world took 
notice, it was too late for the victims. 
When I see "backhoe" in the news today, 
no layer of concrete, whether torn down 
or re-laid, can erase the vision of
mutilated bodies in the earth;
of a would-be king watching 
unmoved from his tower.