An Unfortunate Incident
It happens
every day:
You live a hard life,
die an ugly death,
and leave behind
a ghost
of loss.
You’re shot in the street
while looking for water,
blown to bits
by an errant missile,
your body
and your family
shredded by the shrapnel.
From the safety of our studios,
we call it an unfortunate incident
and get back
to what’s important:
Who looks good
in the playoffs?
Daniel Barlekamp is the author of poetry, fiction, and audio drama for adults and young readers. His poems have appeared in Seventh Quarry, Molecule, Synkroniciti, and elsewhere and have been translated into Chinese by Poetry Hall. Originally from New Jersey, Daniel now lives with his wife and son in Massachusetts, where he works in immigration law by day and attends law school by night. Visit him at dgbarlekamp.com.
The Marbled Sigh 