I Don't

I don’t read the paper But mornings I bring in the library copy And on the front page is the U.S. ambassador Lying in the arms of a Libyan cititzen Like Jesus lying in the arms of his mother After being taken down from the cross. I don’t watch the news But the TV in the staff room is on Replaying and replaying the explosion. The screams. The bloodied ground. I receive a work email to fly the flag half mast A proclamation signed by Mr. President. I don’t follow online media news networks But I’m reading my personal social media feed Friends and family expressing sorrow And outrage and confusion over the shootings Celebrities and public figures hashtagging #prayforNewtown, another Columbine, another Virginia Tech. You might see a photo of me in the newspaper one day Would you lower the flag for so the entire city can see That tragedy on that site from that link and it happened to that girl. The violence affects all of us— Oozes and percolates like a thick jelly of blood Congealing from a liquid and refusing to go away. The violence of old in books are pressed between closed pages Among the aisles of reluctant students and dusty nonfiction But the fear is now and very real If we do nothing to stop the violence.