Literary Vandals

by Marty Shambles

i don’t watch the news
because i already know
what’s happening. gaza

is being bombed all to
hell and the media is
running cover for it.

this is not my thing
to write about. it doesn’t
belong in the belly of a

poet, amid the coffee
and loathing. it belongs
in museums of atrocities

after justice for palestine.
what have i got to say about
it? my bilious intent would

only rupture the cause. it’s a
new year and i’m soured on
the old one like it was

premised on tearing apart
people and buildings that
had business being whole.