Unspeakable

—by which we mean something 
we thought impossible, unreeling 

before our eyes. The days too bright, 
the nights either too quiet or 

exploding with earthquake debris 
and the bombast of helicopter

raids. Parents and children torn 
from each others' arms. Then

they disappear. How many times 
do you read the word torture

in the news? Don't say this is
just the way history plays out. 

Don't say the pendulum swings 
hard but it's not done. Don't  

say you can find other words 
to excuse this or make it clean.