Atrocity
Russell Anderson 1962 (San Bernardino)
This week I witnessed atrocities, 3
Each one an horrific tragedy
From kidnapping and murder in Memphis
To butchery committed against the Cree
And so we ask ourselves
How could it be?
That a human could reach
Such depths of depravity?
Let me present for Thee
A list of the Usual Suspects
Abuse, neglect, teenage drug use, poverty
Indeed
But, alas
One need only look to history
To see all manner of inhumanity
It is.....a commonality
It was taught to me, early
That anybody, everybody
Is capable of such deeds
It is a theme in Heart of Darkness
And Dostoevsky
This week I witnessed atrocities, 3
Each one an horrific tragedy
It elicits horror, and sympathy
But, mostly
Especially
For me
Relief
That it wasn't.......my family
About this poem
Trying to come to grips with seemingly daily barbaric acts perpetrated by homo sapiens. Then, coming to grips with idea of "its a wonder it doesn't happen more often". I ended it with a qausi-selfish note. Feel so bad for the victims; relieved it wasn't my loved ones.
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"Atrocity" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 12 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/137363/atrocity>.
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