Another Day
It’s clear
He doesn’t
Feel a thing
When he talks
About killing
The youth.
Compassion absent,
He mechanically
Recounts how
He wouldn’t
Change a thing,
Just another day.
Mechanically
It’s clear
He doesn’t
Feel a thing
When he talks
About killing
The youth.
Compassion absent,
He mechanically
Recounts how
He wouldn’t
Change a thing,
Just another day.
Subdued
Another child lies dead,
His killer exonerated,
A life less important.
Entrenched power structure
Preserved, secured,
Protecting its own.
Few tears shed by the
Part of the community
That sees him as other,
An animal to be subdued.
A grieving mother and
Father shake their
Heads in resignation.
Remorse
They
Don’t
Believe
In
Peace,
Only
War.
They
Send
Other
People’s
Children
To
Fight.
They
Feel
Absolutely
No
Remorse,
Just
Profits.
Unmanageable
Standing at the counter
Of the emergency room
Trying to get help
For her ailing husband
Clutching his chest.
It happened suddenly,
He was sent home from
His landscaping job
When the pain had
Become unmanageable.
The paperwork makes
No sense to her,
Her fifth grade daughter
Deciphers as much
As she can.
They hold each other’s
Hands and their
Own breaths,
Waiting for his
Name to be called.
Violation
Outrageous
Injustice,
Plain to see
To everyone but
The transgressors
Who perpetuate
Maltreatment.
Indifferent
To the plight,
Pain, systematic
Violation faced by
People who
Have never had
Another choice.
Plan
Create a narrative of
Fear and urgency.
Demonize
Your opponents.
Make them
An other.
Extol your
Virtue and superiority.
Pander to
Base instincts.
Carry out the plan
Mercilessly.
Intentions
With a
Straight
Doughy
Face,
He looks at
The cameras
And tells
Another lie
To cover for
His real agenda,
Projecting his
Own intentions
On his opponents,
Stealing
From the poor to
Give to the rich.
Remainder
Right around this time
Every year, they
Gather toys for
The children of
The less fortunate,
Sometimes coats and
Sundry clothing,
Perhaps some food.
It fills them with
A sense of magnanimity,
Doing something good
For others.
The remainder of the year,
In daily conversation,
At the ballot box,
They believe in
And vote for the
Very people and policies
That create the need.
Imposing
Spreading fear
With impunity,
Imposing the will of
A scared
Authoritarian
Patriarchy
Through force.
Relentless campaign of
Intimidation
Waged by baton,
Overwhelmingly targeting
Minorities and
Disenfranchised
Human beings who dare
Protest the status quo.
Shills for those who
Resent any
Opposition
To their power.