DEATH OF EMPATHY by Lynn White

When empathy died
the soldiers could dance
in the streets they’d cracked
wearing the underwear of the women
whose homes they had destroyed.
And dance they did with pride.

When empathy was dead 
the soldiers could take children’s toys
from the rubble of their bombed homes
and repurpose them as tank trophies
mascots to be flaunted with pride
while the street cracked
under the weight.

When they had killed empathy 
the soldiers could shoot babies
in the head or gut - they chose,
and someone’s daughter 200 times, 
or 300 - they could choose.
And they filmed it with pride
from the street’s rubble and cracks.

When empathy was murdered
the soldiers could capture children
and imprison them in cages,
one metre square,
or whatever they chose
until they told them 
what they did not know
and then laugh with pride
in the smooth Israeli streets.

When empathy was dead and buried
deep down below the streets’ cracks
and only silence could be heard
Israel was supreme,
a supreme being, 
godlike in its power.
Human rights were dead,
humans would follow
any of them
even all 
would fall
through the streets of cracks
until the un-cracked power and pride
was cracked.

 

Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality. She has been nominated for Pushcarts, Best of the Net and a Rhysling Award. https://lynnwhitepoetry.blogspot.com and https://www.facebook.com/Lynn-White-Poetry-1603675983213077/ 

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