Another One Poem by Patti Masterman

There he is on the television,
Another killer:
Small, shifty close-set eyes,
Low forehead, though they say
That has no bearing on intelligence.

Why they bring them to us,
Day after day, like beaming mothers
Offering up their offspring for compliments?
This, the nativity from our country,
This, from our culture, our debasements..

The harbinger eyes of death,
Of another's pitiful death;
But what does that mean to us?
Still, do not look too closely
Or the knife may stab you too-

Be calm and indistinct, instead
Don't return his gaze,
Don't allow him to imprint:
Such a callous face could never feel, empathize;
How could it have belonged to an infant once?

Take it back, take it back,
This abomination is too real-
Close eyes and mind,
Don't let him get any closer,
He, who would sunder all you love,
Given half a chance.

Now click the remote button, now try to forget
Whatever you were hoping to see there.
When death rules the entire world,
Fairy tales will never compete-
It must always give us HIM,
As if there was never a choice to be had.

You can still say an extra Hail Mary at bedtime
If it makes you feel any better.