Even when she
Followed all the rules,
Jumped through all the hoops,
Adhered to all the social norms,
Reached the pinnacle
Of her profession,
Became an exemplary
Member of the community,
Did all the right things,
She was still judged
By the color of her skin.
Detached.
Abstract.
As if what he believes
Has no real consequences.
Ignore.
Avoid.
Ramifications
Out of mind.
Pretend.
Suppress.
It requires no
Wisdom, imagination,
Courage, to do
Something awful
To someone else.
It’s easy to exclude
Others from joining
One’s little game,
Keep their grubby,
Different hands off things.
It’s far more difficult
To let go of fear and
Reach out to people
In need, no matter
Who they are.
Though circumstances may seem
Unbearable,
Remember that
There is a multitude of us
Here for you.
There is so much
Good in the world
Sustained by countless people
Who believe in love
And hope.
We care for you and each other,
We breathe together,
You’re never alone.
It sounds like a
Wonderful dream,
A place devoid of compassion,
Where no one gets health care,
Persecution for not
Believing certain things
Is acceptable,
Violence rules,
Some people are
More equal than others,
A few own most everything,
Cruelty and callousness
Are celebrated.
It’s not that
They can’t help people,
It’s just that
They choose not to.
Inhumanity
Is simply the
Inability to
Move past fear.
We all do better
When we look out
For each other,
Courageously.
It takes a particular
Personality to vilify
Another group just
Because it doesn’t
Agree with one’s own
Biases, an entrenched
Fear and mistrust of
Things that are different,
A compulsion to classify
Whole groups of people,
Forcing them into a
Box labeled enemy.
On his day off,
He gets a call to
Come in to work though
He was just there
Seven hours ago.
Last week he was
On his way to start
His shift and they told him
It was too slow,
Go back home.
Jobs are few and
Far between here,
There are mouths
To be fed and
Dreams to put on hold.
It’s not only the
Disturbing lack of
Empathy permeating
Their actions, but
Also how uniformly
They’ve become
Radicalized,
Common decency,
Social conscience,
Quaint terms to be
Maligned, abandoned
In favor of abject
Heartlessness.
