Posted by smokeymadison on February 9, 2005, at 10:06:55
Ignorance
Yesterday’s newspaper hurled at a full trash bin
How many people died in Iraq today?
As their lips touched the dust
And their pulses slowed
As their blood stained the hands
Of the comrades who held them
What last thought held their minds?Where did the latest terrorist attacks occur?
Did the terrorists scream “Jihad”
As they pulled the red cords
Among a crowd full of tourists on their way to the Western Wall
Waiting for the bus that was running late?How many people died of AIDS today?
Their weakened, shrunk bodies littering the makeshift hospital ward
Where their loved ones , also HIV positive, gathered in silence
What are the chances that the survivors will have access to life-sustaining drugs
And the will to live that will strengthen their immune systems?What headlines held the drama?
For I did not read the newspaper today
Nor yesterday, or the week beforeMy world has collapsed upon itself
Into concerns over how low I am running on cigarettes
And what I should include on my shopping list
Before I go to the groceryMy mind collapses further and I sit
Staring at a blank television screen
Pondering when I should take out the trash
poster:smokeymadison
thread:455369
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20050118/msgs/455369.html