As visitors and onlookers, we know
yet disregard ourselves . . . our power
(speaking of general tendencies)
Don’t take it personally, you may be
empathetic variety, rare bird
you may be resistant to persuasion
We know: “do not feed” monkeys in a zoo
lest we create a scuffle amongst them
lest we feed an unnatural need
Oh, we expect anyone’s defenses
organically protect them in duress
we then work out the timing of events
We still shift blame to victims of ill will
be it passive be it aggression
we isolate victims to their peril
We feed their monsters when we fail to see
our humanity—our empathy to
creatures inside their enclosed space, we fail
Recognition of our own barriers
encased within the be-all and end-all
though subconsciously aware at all times
Life's Poetic Essence 