Ashamed

it’s early morning
the traffic is already heavy
and the people are out there
doing what they do
and I’m here
waiting for inspiration
to strike
it doesn’t always happen
a lot of it is hype
but I can still sit
at the piano
and I can still sing
through the night
I can still type
and I can still fuck
so everything seems alright
but is it?
there are children being hurt
and killed in Gaza
a war between Hamas and Israel 
and I watched the news
as they pulled shrapnel
from a six-month old child’s back 
with no anesthetic
and it really
put things in perspective
it made me cringe
it made me gasp
and it sickened me
to think of our daily routine
our incessant bitching
and complaining about this or that 
as wars ravage the planet
as man shows his wrath
over beliefs and territory
but I know what I felt
when I saw that six-month old
and what I feel every time
I see women and children being hurt 
cities and structures being burnt
or just blown all to hell
by missiles and bombs
and who are we to complain
about our dreary lives
over peaceful morning coffee?
it really makes me feel guilty
how about you?

- 2013