I think I'm cheating or something.
Otherwise, why do the gunmen
mow down the innocent in northern Kenya
and not here.
My life is like answers written
on the back of my hand.
Floods, earthquakes,
riots in the streets - no.
It says right here in my knuckles:
eat tasty dinner, watch TV,
go to bed and sleep deep.
Even when the violence is close,
there's a piece of paper
hidden in my pocket
that I can refer to.
Drug deal gone wrong?
No, it clearly states,
kiss on the cheek,
arm around the shoulder.
Three car pile-up on 295?
The missive declares,
drive on, go to your destination,
you're not involved.
I read the newspaper in the morning:
Kidnappings, muggings,
landslides and always more massacres.
Nothing in those pages indicates
that these or any other
crimes, wars and disasters,
can be avoided.
Not even the obituaries.
But the ones pictured
are always someone else.
If I knew my secret
believe me I'd share it
with all the ones
who don't know their secret.
John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in New World Writing, River And South and The Alembic. Latest books, “Bittersweet”, “Subject Matters” and “Between Two Fires” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in Paterson Literary Review, White Wall Review and Flights.