Why Do I Watch It

It’s only a face

plastered across

the screen.

Does the face change

when it’s eight years

old, from southern

Afghanistan, with lethal

shrapnel in the forehead?

Twain, Einstein, and

Vonnegut pretty much

gave up on us violent hairless

super monkeys.

Is the Dalai Lama

still holding on or will he

soon throw in humanity’s

towel too? Will he

duct tape TNT to his

midriff and storm an

elementary school in

China?

Or maybe gunships, errant

missiles, and friendly fire

would be more effective

for dolling out unsympathetic apologies,

presidential denials, and the

prevailing democracy at

2600 miles per second diplomacy.

I could click off the remote,

shut the computer down,

and burn the newspaper,

but I know these things will

still happen.

Maybe it’s better

to be awake and alert even

though I find myself crying

too often these days.