It Is Not The Backhoe Poem by RIC BASTASA

what caused all the miseries of those
who were massacred

what is the symbol? it is not the backhoe
it is not even the driver of the backhoe
it is not the armalite
neither the bullets
it is that man who denies that he was there
it is not the impunity
it is those who used impunity, those who used the backhoe
those who used the drivers and the soldiers
it is those who use them all
up there

those who voted for them
finally
those who get the money
those who do not do anything
those who simply watch