above the crazed violence

It seems, in my desperately flailing mind, 

that rational, good-hearted people ought 

to be able to overwhelm all this insanity -- 

an image of these like a soft cloud of good 

will, floating above the crazed violence 

and foaming it out

Going back to New York in my mind

Nonbinary -- take things as they are

without limiting into categories

relinquish the illusion of control

They're killing us

slow and fast

we're letting it happen

too abused to fight?

too overwhelmed by ever growing

trauma to peek out beyond

our screams?

too uninformed in worthwhile

thinking to even conceive of how

to proceed -- if we're destined to

bleed, better in slaughter or battle?

Impolite = impolitic

Why indulge in gratuitous rudeness

without considering the ripples?

I get it.  You are encultured in a

world view that commands no one

but you (and maybe yours) deserves

any iota of what you believe belongs

to you.  And you believe everything

you dare claim is yours

It's not about me

I'm old

And my life has not been easy

But I'd like to believe when I leave

the world will be tilted toward hope

and compassion, away from hate

and despair

Why aren't school kids somehow

integrated into local government --

classroom speakers, class trips, projects

so we all know who works for us, what

they do, how to communicate, take part in.

7/15-20/24