living just doesn't sell
nobody's interested today
maybe it's just as well
tragedy's a better cliché

the blood's already spilled
the innocent's beaten in life
their promise too soon killed
speculations of motives rife

we'll watch again and again
we'll all be spellbound to see
what befalls another one slain
surrounded by flotsam and debris

tornado rips through the land
uprooting trees and lives and all
matters quickly get out of hand
shown on net and news to enthrall

the car careens into the ditch
the wreckage bursts into flame
yet another concern for which
we'll quietly say "what a shame"

until the next disaster comes
to focus our short-lived attention
we'll gnash teeth at what becomes
something we can't wait to mention

to colleagues, neighbors, friends
in real life it's hard to matter
feel empathy is stranger in ends
we're desensitized by the chatter

© agoodguy2have 2010-06-06