In Desperate Tangos Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Exchanging partners.
With similar points of view.
Despicable and unwarranted.
Although entertaining.
With media coverage,
To obtain that too.

How they danced entangled.
And closer to the edge.
Their fast paced steps took.
Defying correctness.
While continuing to offend.
Just for the attention to get,
For themselves.

Hope they did,
To distract with their act.
With dangerous moves.
And defiant attitudes.

Yet...
Too close and near,
They danced to the edge.
Without fear.
Or the thought of it.
Then suddenly...
That edge?
It collapsed beneath them.

'And...
That's it?
What else happened? '

The cheering of the people,
Watching stopped.
They left and went home.

'Wait a minute.
The people cheering to watch.
Stopped?
And turned around,
To go home?
No one appeared shocked?
Or horrified? '

This is America.
People are easily distracted.
And even quicker,
To become bored.

'But...
That reaction.
Isn't normal is it? '

That depends.

'That depends?
That depends on what? '

On who believes,
What they witnessed to see.
And who is allowed,
To be made convinced...
They were not there to see,
Anything at all.
Even though,
They were participants.

'I hear what you are saying.
But...
What is normal about that? '

It's a way of life.
Just as much as denial is.
You must be here visiting?

'Yeah!
I am.
How did you know that? '

Your eyes.
Pure and clear.
So full of childish innocence!