Epigraph: I accept the case for justice. Yet I wonder: should our children carry the weight, must they know the worst of us?

“fighting monsters in a mirror facing mirrors.”

I don’t think becoming our enemies 

is American. 

What are we doing, 

and who is being satisfied 

by this?

What will we become 

after we witness it 

with our eyes, 

or our ears,

or simply informed

sipping overpriced 

unblackened coffee—

kill him

It will end our pain

-Hasan must die.

This our new pastime

sponsored killings

in the name and eyes of—

our God

his God

whose God?

Will God be in the ears 

of the firing squad

or just the men

who say 45 bullets

add two more just to be sure, 

yeah 47 will do

what have we to lose?

he shouted “Allahu…”

we invoke his name too 

we imprison and deport him:

you know Jesús

Is a bullet the same as a stone? 

Is it any less barbaric than stoning?

Yes, we will say eye for an eye…

while a mote splints ours.

What say Jesus 

about stones and hoes, 

and sin, 

and men, 

and anger, 

and love?

Is this how we become great— 

again?

God is greatest!