Being an observer of events of my time
Trying diligently not to judge
What took over someone else's mind
A building is blown up
Stirring up anger toward diversity
From someone holding deep rooted hatred
Stemming from a grudge
Against fellow workers
A slighted love
A governmental injustice
A religious point of view
Seeks retribution
As an idea
Of destruction blinds his conscience
To how many will lay dead
Instead of taking the time to
Decipher right from wrong
His mind dwells on his own pain
Memories of dads playing ball with their sons
Or daughters baking cookies with mom
Never even enters his mind
As the plot unfolds
Becoming the intimidator
No longer the victim
As the crescendo of anger and hatred builds
Until the violence is unleashed
Aftermath leaving innocent victims
Dying for an injustice
Of someone else's mind.
by Susan Escobar
... who is a teacher, former servicemember, and spouse of a
serving Airman; her work has also been anthologized in The
Sounds of Poetry.