Friday, May 5, 2023

AGAINST BENEVOLENCE

When the weather 
is calm, theirs are 
shoulders to lean on,

but pursuant 
to disaster, it's 

the noble 
who are trouble. 
In meltdown, 

in plague, war, 
death, 
or pandemic, it's like

everything 
they excel at—

all the sitting still 
and giving love

while receiving 
wisdom with grace 
from above; 

all the sending prayers
and preaching hope, 

while turning cheeks 
without a smirk—

is now far worse
than haphazard  
or useless. 

To the ones who wake up 
in afflicted  
scenarios, 

conviction
is an empty, if deadly 
placebo; 

the only real cure is 
doing the work.