When Bad News Assembles

by John Grey / April 27th, 2025

I am feeling
angry at my own aborted rage  –
caged lion, pacing body,
reacting to the news,
black guy killed like a dog
by a cop,
first cramped full of bitterness,
then tearful because I’m not black,
followed by the sensation of wanting
to tear down these civilized bars,
then finally hopelessness
dissolves the fit,
and I’m shocked at myself –
my feelings aren’t enough
to stop a bullet to another’s head –
then time solves nothing,
I ache the more,
ponder how powerless
the headlines make me,
like I’m the most useless man on earth,
humanity’s fall guy,
raped by indecision –
            here boy,
            I’m the law,
            lie down and like it –
but maybe it’s just baby steps,
so much to be done,
have to start somewhere,
or my time for protest has passed,
my sense of grievance
is old and bald and missing teeth,
and I’m laid up
in my home for the “never was”,
and ain’t life a bitch,
with always something new to bitch about:
intolerance, bigotry,
today retells history’s story
with the same roles
but different bad actors,
and me with no power,
better for me and my conscience,
if I just focus for now on who I love,
none of whom are lifeless strangers.

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in New World Writing, North Dakota Quarterly and Dissident Voice. Latest books, ”Between Two Fires”, “Covert” and “Memory Outside The Head” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in California Quarterly, Birmingham Arts Journal, La Presa and Shot Glass Journal. Read other articles by John.

This article was posted on Sunday, April 27th, 2025 at 8:00am and is filed under Poetry.