For Trayvon, When Listening to My Facebook Friends
Is No Longer Enough
I teach a class an hour away, and late
at night, the only station I can hear
is Christian and conservative. A spate
of Bible verse for guide. The callers fear
for their immortal souls. They masturbate,
and then regret. A college boy in tears,
and I bewildered listening, the weight
of distance, each in our separate sphere --
and then I�m home again. Turn off the show;
it�s easier to bear this pain with those
who share my views. We are today deranged
with grief; I cannot bear to turn and go
to hear their fear that burns and outward flows.
Yet standing safe on shore will bring no change.
*****
Mohanraj
7/14/13
I'm not sure the topic shift really works here (from sex to death), so I may end up revising this substantially. Was just -- feeling a little thrown, I guess. By the echo chamber of my Facebook feed, which is remarkably consistent in its outrage on some issues; it's enough to make me feel like any other viewpoint is not just ridiculous, but impossible. And then I wander out of that little shell, for a moment, and am shocked senseless.