relatively speaking…

things aren’t all that bad
no mass extinction events
deaths of young children
just 15,000 per day
certainly things could be worse

 

another case of denial…

 

used as war’s weapons
depleted uranium
children’s cancer deaths
said not to be related
as was smoking cigarettes

 

your voting resume…

a child
lies dead
drive-by shooting
not uncommon
in this part
of town
no need
for
stares
no need
for
prayers
it’s
just
the way it is
just
the way
it
is
a child
lies dead
a police shooting
not uncommon
in this part
of town
no need
for
stares
no need
for
prayers
it’s
just
the way it is
just
the way
it
is
a child
lies dead
some kind of drug-head
not uncommon
in this part
of town
no need
for
stares
no need
for
prayers
it’s
just
the way it is
just
the way
it
is
a child
lies dead
beaten by her pimp
not uncommon
in this part
of town
no need
for
stares
no need
for
prayers
it’s
just
the way it is
just
the way
it
is
a child
lies dead
no medical care
not uncommon
in this nation
now
no need
for
stares
no need
for
prayers
it’s
just
the way it is
just
the way
it
is

the moral black hole…

there will be
no tears shed
no words
of condolence offered
to grief-stricken parents
they’re
here
illegally
and
do not share
your
religion
they should have
chosen
to die
in their own country
with
their
own kind
but
in a moment
of true
sainthood
you
offer up
a pray
before
voting
for
a hatemonger

after lunch…

discussion topic
number of starving children
and subsequent deaths

acquisition cost…

1 million
malnourished children
dying
each year
and
although
45 dollars
could
provide
a full course
of
life-saving care
weapons
are bought
missiles
air to air infrared
a cool million apiece
and
arrays
of sexy rockets
like
surface to air
man-portables
at
bargain prices
of
38,000 dollars
per unit
oh
the rockets’ red glare
and
the bursting in air
of rifle rounds
fired
from calibers
most could
never
comprehend
nor count
the number
of shots fired
or
total price
not
quite
as cheap
as rice
but
choices
must
be made
supporting
life
or
war

do we have the time for it…

let’s read the names
of all the children
who died today
from
disease and war
to
commemorate
the gifts
they could have shared
had
they been spared
but
we’ll need
to read fast
one name
every
four seconds

holographic images…

these children you see
homeless hungry and alone
are to be ignored
their fate is not yours
nor that of your dear children
no need to look up
finish your coffee
catch the downtown train to work
you’ll feel better then
we have really tried
to make them invisible
but their holograms
for moral reasons
reappear from time to time
not to worry friend
winter vacation
is at hand so forget them
have another drink
give us a moment
to erase their visual file
from your memory
they’re a hologram
nothing more than an image
that somehow can bleed

heaven’s waif…

the bud will not bloom
it has been cut from the tree
tears its only fruit

Poem inspired by Ebbtide post.

malaria…

breaths
heavy footsteps
against the chest
a cold motionless child
pressed tight against
a mother’s breast
a breast where once
a life was sustained
now the final cradle
a small hidden wound
at the base of the neck
has taken a family’s dreams
and placed them forever
out of reach