I Wonder Why?

April 1, 2022 - This poem, written in 2015, reflected what I thought was a confusing time. Somewhat like the sign above, found in Gerlach, Nevada, I didn't know if it was a beginning or an ending. Now we know: strange times were just beginning. Where or when it will end is still to be determined. Maybe it's just part of the human state with almost 8 billion people trying to make it through the day on one fragile planet.

I wonder why?

I wonder why I, who believes in no dogma,

Who can no longer wear the badge of Christianity,

Keep asking myself, “What would Jesus do?"

And receiving an answer so different

from what I see around me?

I wonder why?

I wonder why we who live in the shelter

of freedom and abundance, allow mega-corps

a free ride while our wounded wander homeless,

our children go to bed hungry, and those who

have never known freedom or abundance

are turned away from our door?

I wonder why?

I wonder why we lock our doors at night and then

turn our backs on the creeping devastation coming our way?

I wonder why we still pour our money into weapons of mass

destruction as we climb into our cars and drink manufactured

water out of invincible bottles that will inherit our earth?

I wonder why?

I wonder why the heroes of our grandchildren are vampires,

zombies, and dead souls weaving their way through a dystopian

world without hope or reason, and why they inflict pain 

on their tender bodies in a search for art and meaning?

I wonder why?

I wonder why we lost our way?