How many times
have I begged you
to break bread
instead of breaking heads
taking supper together
instead of shaking
in your oil burning bed?

How many times
have I begged you to smile
not sharpen your teeth
but sit separated
from your serrated
fingers and toes
let go of the bombs
that sizzle and blow
burning the skin
off of enemies
and dearest friends?

How many times
have I begged you
to take up the pen
not the guns
to write words
of hope and love
not rhetoric
that eviscerates
the very soul
of kind intent?

How many times
must I clutter these pages
with weak metaphors
and strange similes
till you finally see me
and all of my
disgusting humanity
all hugs and handshakes
all dusty skin flakes
but still reaching out to you
to remind you to
try to be kind to?