Indolent Nation

Have we seen such utter madness and encountered

so much sadness that they fail to touch us

any longer, and our horror is no stronger

than a passing thought or two?

There is nothing I can do!

If disease and deprivation, wars,

neglect, mass starvation, epidemics,

drug addiction, crime, riots,

and affliction ignite no distress within our soul,

must this not exact some toll?

If we feel no indignation when a tyrant

soils his nation with a butcher’s flow

of blood, and a veritable

great flood of loud protests

isn’t heard,

why are we mute and speak no word?

When lawbreakers rampant

run, and our cities people shun, while we turn

our heads away, shed no tears…

demand no say. . . If we’re indifferent to this blight,

how can we rest content at night?

If atrocities in great number

fail to shake us

from our slumber, and we opt for non-commitment

when we witness gross maltreatment,

Apathy is manifested every single time we’re tested.

Then I tell you, friend,

most surely, a time will come

to face it clearly. After doom arrives, unhindered, we will grasp

what we’ve surrendered,

prisoners of our own indifference, victims of our moral absence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOTE TO READERS: I will appreciate your comments.

This is my original work and may not be reproduced by any method or used elsewhere without my express written permission. Plagiarism is theft of intellectual property.