Sad Song

I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG
PERHAPS A WHISTLE BY THE GRAVEYARD SONG
A DEFIANT IN YOUR FACE SONG
A FRIGHTENED SONG
I HOPE NOT A DUMB SONG
CLOUDED BY PAIN
MEDICINE
OR MIND
BUT I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG

I’VE BEEN SICK AGAIN
LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
IT CAUGHT ME UNAWARES

BUT I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG

MY LITTLE MALADY
COMPARED TO THE WORLD’S PAIN

I DO NOT FIND THAT SUFFERING IS ENNOBLING

SO MUCH OF IT IS UNDESERVED

I DO NOT THINK THAT GOD SENDS PAIN
SO MUCH IS HUMAN CAUSED

GOD ASKS US TO BRING HIS KINGDOM HERE
A POETIC GESTURE
OR DID HE MEAN IT

AND IF HE MEANT IT
ARE WE NOT TASKED TO ELIMINATE PAIN

AT TREBLINKA
THEY USED GEESE
TO MASK THE SOUND OF SUFFERING

HAVE WE GONE MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT
TO MAKE THE WORLD
THE WAY GOD WANTS IT

FRANK A VOLLMER