On television the newscaster
speaks the grim truth-
that things have come to this:
police " competent" only insofar
as their picking up of spent
cartridges,
their cordoning off the
crime scene
and one sees them mulling about,
sluggish, indifferent.
Here, order, security
the enforcement of Law
is non-existent.
Anarchy reigns.
From both sides of the border-
one can read the noble but fundamental words:
" The Bible is the Truth- Read it."
This is painted on a cliffside
visible to millions...
" Thou shalt not kill"
mocked, ignored.
And an archbishop
speaking at the funeral
of 14 youths massacred
condemns the chaos.
Politicians, reporters, clergy
- all make their proclamations
promote peace
but the violence worsens
the statistics stagger
any rational mind.
Who? What group, entity
will intervene? And when?
These questions linger...
Meanwhile we, citizens
continue on with our duties-
life's daily routine- Work, Family
maintaining the Home;
but the bottom denominator
is survival- staying alive
keeping loved ones safe.
So simple it seems,
yet in Juarez a task
of exhausting difficulty.
While the core doctrine
of humanity
society's mortar
" Love Thy Neighbor."
Is cast away,
flown
as if by dust
carried by desert winds.