Two men recently died from a clash
On a Portland light-rail train.
The two men lost their precious lives
For reasons so insane.

Someone, angry, confused, and deranged,
Entered the car and began
Assaulting two women verbally.
Obviously, the man

Was more than just a pesky nuisance,
For three passengers tried
To intervene because the rantings
And ravings wouldn't subside.

The white supremacist, Islamophobic
Madman yelled in a fury
That Muslims should die. The line between
Safety and danger was blurry.

The three heroes became the target
Of the reprobate.
He stabbed all three, but two of them died:
Victims of cruel hate.

One man was a former vet
And loving father of four;
The other a recent college grad,
Gone forevermore.

Even though we know the answer
We still ask ourselves why
It is that good Samaritans
Sometimes have to die.

- by Bob B (5-31-17)