This is a little bit random, but following up on the last post:
I heard someone singing S&G’s “I Am A Rock” the other day, and the following, slight, adjustment of the lyrics occurred to me. Its essentially the same joke as “Iran is a country between Iraq and a hard place,” but the more I thought through the entire song, the more poignant it became. And funny.

Of course there’s a problem with the line “I am an island.” And at first I tried to find something like “I am not Ireland.” But ultimately it became more interesting to imagine Iraq thinking of itself as an island.

So enjoy! Sing along if you know the tune…

“A winters day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am Iraq,
I am an island.

I’ve built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
Its laughter and its loving I disdain.
I am Iraq,
I am an island.

Don’t talk of love,
But I’ve heard the word before;
Its sleeping in my memory.
I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am Iraq,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am Iraq,
I am an island.

And Iraq feels no pain;
And an island never cries.”