A Lament

The patient struggles on the floor
The weight of his mistakes pressing down
On his chest, the foot of the elephant
At least, that’s the feeling
Rushed at the last minute
To the emergency room
To a bed, surrounded by doctors
Searching for a diagnosis
But all that they see
Is certain death

“Is there a solution?
Can we save the patient?
What will it take for him to rise again?
What can we do to provide a cure?
Do we know the cause
Of the dark illness deep inside?
Something physical?
Something emotional?
Something spiritual?
Is it too late?”

I sit in the waiting room
Debating within myself
If it’s better for him to live
Or to die
What is wrong with me
That I have such horrid thoughts?
How can I be so selfish
Why am I self-absorbed
Or are my thoughts a measure
Of true reality?

--

Tears flow from my eyes
As I watch my country die
Changes unstoppable
Without interference
Without a comeuppance
For a cult bent on destruction
There is no empathy within
No compassion given out
My nation is at odds
With itself

As I sit watching…passively
In lament.