Why Do I Watch It?

It’s only a face

plastered across

the TV screens.

Does the face change

when it’s eight years

old, from southern

Russia, with a bullet

hole in the forehead?

Does the face change

when it’s eight years

old, from southern

Russia, with a bullet

hole in the forehead?

Twain, Einstein, and now

maybe Vonnegut have

given up. 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

at least for systematic

apologies, presidential denials,

and 2600 miles per second democracy.

I could click the off button on

the remote, shut the

computer down, and burn the

newspaper in the fireplace,

but I know these things will

still, go on. Maybe it’s better

to be awake and alert even

though I find myself crying

too often these days.