death
does not have
one face
but
many
some
hidden behind
corporate logos
where
money
the antipsychotic drug
reduces the side effects
of moral responsibility
while others faces
parade
in
public agencies
the second line
of social injustice
holding high
parasols of indifference
to block out
the light
of morality and justice
they’re the kind of
reapers
whose scythes
are
laws
laws
with
razor-sharp rules
bleeding
any hope
from those
seeking
to be free
from
the social roles
prescribed to them
those seeking
to be free
battle an army
of reapers
reapers
who
bring death
and
those
who bring death
do not value
life
no matter
what
the color
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/28/jamycheal-mitchell-virginia-jail-found-dead
– Charles W. Martin
© 2015, poem and illustration, Charles W. Martin, All rights reserved
Wow. This is so well-said. There were many lines I loved in this piece, Charles, but especially, “money
the antipsychotic drug
reduces the side effects
of moral responsibility”.
It was nice to hear you read it. You have a good voice and it’s always nice to hear the emphasis on words from the poet to see if they match the internal beat in the reader’s mind.
Thanks for sharing!
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A fitting litany of the deaths, literal and metaphoric, as Yom Kippur approaches—both a Day of Atonement and a day of remembering the dead, as those remaining are inscribed into the Book of Life. Here’s a bit of Leonard Cohen (Who By Fire), Middle East style.
Again, thanks for reading the poem. It is so good to hear a poem well-read by the poet.
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