it’s an old lie, told in two parts
magnanimously mounted, carefully constructed
bookends for your calling and self-proclaimed mooring
and the only thing they agree on is the middle
the world is not black and white
the truth is not black and white
evil is not
but people are; you didn’t understand
(you think you’re talking about death –
you’re not talking about death at all.
the dead didn’t lie to you)
people are light
(so white it hurts, the forensic scrutiny in the flashlight of your former –
you don’t call them friends)
and air
(of rational minds, unfettered hands; breathing and believing)
and color
(polarized against your reality, the gray and the gray and the truth)
but,
none are the people you (saved)
none are the people you (killed)
because the devil’s bargain is black (would it feel good – to kill me now?)
and the devil’s bargain is white (can i borrow your imagination?)
and you’re
