Celestial Reckonings

A primitive space vehicle

after many years

finally reached Pluto,

the planet, not-a-planet,

and discovered water,

at least ice formations

that could be water.

At the current rate

of space travel progress,

if we survive

nuclear, chemical,

biological war,

climate change,

other disasters,

we might reach Pluto

in two or three hundred years,

barring a scientific breakthrough

just in time to find out

the water is polluted.

Camera Serenade

The tourists come

to Bryant Park,

take photos of statues

of they know not who,

photos of the carousel,

photos of the chess players,

the jugglers, ping-pong,

yoga on the lawn,

photos, photos, photos,

digital substitutes

for personal involvement

in all the events

crammed into a tiny park.

Pity the Children

The changing nature

of a liberal society

committed to tolerance

of the unreasonable,

the unacceptable

by any moral standards

that allow horrific crimes

inflicted on children,

while apathetic citizens

never rise up in outrage

and demand harsh punishment

for violent abusers.

Clamor

Prolonged discussions

of political or social issues,

controversial events,

rarely lead to agreement,

most ending in argument,

irreconcilable dispute,

intentions invariably

on self-assertion,

inflicting opinions

on unappreciative listeners.

Trauma Time

Virtue is no longer a virtue

in a land of tolerant intolerance.

The spoiled offspring of privilege

stroll through city streets

creatures so absorbed in entitlement

they cannot conceive that disaster

will ever target them,

armored in middle class comforts,

oblivious to others

until the sudden shock

of abrupt interruption

halts their serene conversations,

compels them momentarily

to confront harsh reality.

Gary Beck