HEADLINES
by Lori Martin

I paste a ransom note out of these headlines
Shredding the words for dear life
Demanding an answer NOW

Poverty violence hatred despair
Pain death destruction greed
Homelessness abandonment
Oppression neglect

Who is to blame?
What can be done?
Where is there justice?
When will it end?
WHY?

I spell it all out in torn letters
I beg the powers-that-be
Rewrite this! Please. If you can.

After a time, in the silence,
I paste a wish list
Out of these headlines.

Love courage grace mercy
Healing redemption hope
Beauty joy kindness life
Justice peace.


(I wrote the first draft of this after September 11, 2001; and rewrote it April 28, 2015.)