Out of the ashes

I hold my tongue, when instead
I want to lash out.
The idiocy that is uttered
Stuns the senses, numbs the brain.
Can those thoughts be from genuine understanding?
Are they a reckless regurgitation
Of the company line?
Can you explain what you mean,
Do you mean what you say,
Or are you just plain mean?
That you said that out loud
With a straight face
Without crossing your fingers,
Makes me question more than your grasp of actuality.
It’s not all emotion and reaction.
There must be pragmatism, rationalism, realism,
Empathy, Sympathy and humanity.

Your societal acumen is lacking
Any experience in real-life happenings.
Posturing based on films at 11pm
And 24-hour man-on-the-streets,
Snippets of life you don’t live,
Can’t possibly comprehend.
No mind-reading fly on the wall,
What to believe is a line checked on a form.
Judgment and opinions won’t turn back time
Preconceptions and biases won’t right wrongs.
Apologists, accusers, antagonizers, provocateurs.
Stirring shit, spitting curses, splitting skulls.
Watching witches burn
While mothers mourn what could have been.

I don’t know what I don’t know
But I know truths untold.
The stink of exploitation,
The next big book deal, lifetime movie plot,
Public access documentary.
Remember the names had a backstory
That was more eloquent than a single day.