reluctant witness
I am a witness to a wrong I could not prevent
calculated with malice, intent
revenge designed to destroy
ravage of lives for profit and joy
Windmills chant Gregorian verses
laced with accusations, encouragement
and my face presses into my palms
I am a witness to a wrong I could not prevent
callousness that is appalling, deliberate
ruined lives, livelihood and soul
reverberations of immorality smudge my epistemology
A seasoned janitor’s key ring
of excuses
Jangle jingle as I try to make them fit
and Charles said “People are not good to each other”
And I am a witness to it.
4 thoughts on "reluctant witness"
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So true, and so difficult to be around. Those of us with big hearts, practiced in empathy and compassion don’t have it very easy. Thank you for this poem.
Tony
Your poem’s overtone of being caught in an intractable situation
gives me a sense of foreboding. Its vagueness emphasizes to me how hopeless, and possibly evil, the situation may be.
You drew me in to your world and evoke compassion from me and inspired me to turn to prayer asking for devine intervention! Bless you Tony!
Love: A seasoned janitor’s key ring
of excuses