whiskey tango foxtrot in poetry

whiskey tango foxtrot
alphanumeric spy stations
call out on the shortest
of shortwaves

some people say
it's the Russians
some people say
they're actually the CIA
and some people say
it's just a very subtle prank
or pirate test transmissions
by their Cousin Frank

but as long as we're not sure
they can be simply amazing
in the way that unsolved mystery
so often can trump history

but whatever it is
and whatever they are
and whatever meaning you're got
the little British girl's voice
is droning the words out
whiskey tango foxtrot

she's calling strings of letters
in military notation
and upon translation
might hold the fate of nations
or may just tell a double agent
to stand down and be patient
take a senator as your lover
don't blow your cover
the war still goes unfought
whiskey tango foxtrot

it might not be a British girl
it might be an Israeli actress
might even be a goddamn robot
messing with us
trying make us paranoid with her
whiskey tango foxtrot

however and nevertheless
there are codes out in the air
this is not a test
I just I know we're unprepared
whiskey tango foxtrot
whiskey tango foxtrot
whiskey
tango
foxtrot