In city traffic one fall morning,
a driver of a rusted white sedan,
probably on the way to a job,
sped through a red light
at the top of a hill,
near a school zone.

A woman in pink sweat pants
grabbed the backpack attached to her young son
and yanked him close
as the sedan swerved in the crosswalk
at the last moment
before obliterating them both
on the street.

In bars and in churches
and all over social media,
we question our violent culture.
No one seems to have the answers,
yet we ignore the truth.
We're expected to suspend our humanity,
to **** anyone who crosses our paths
for the privilege to work and earn,
all so we can eat.