A WALK IN THE PARK

whose side will you be on
when there is no distinction
between good and evil?

when the "good guys"
resemble the bad and
it's every guy for himself.

when silence is persuasive,
satan is a manipulator,
and god wants no voice.

will you scream?

when the poster boy for peace,
jesus christ's face is stolen
for advertisements of violence
of the most dutiful kind.

when your proud and noble country
blindfolds you with patriotism
and then asks you to fight.

will you fight blindly?

when the scrolls of memory
meet the flames
and you miss yourself.

when truth isn't in demand
and there's no air-time
for knowledge on this station.

will you change the channel?

when there is no remote control.
when you have no power
to switch on or off.

will you have eyes left to open?
will there be fingers in your ears?

will you have a voice and a cause
to fight for? to cheer on?
when its every guy for himself
who will be cheering for you?

whose side will you be on
when there are more than two sides?

when the good mingle with the bad,
when the nice guys try
to finish last,
and nobody wins the race.

what are you running for?

©Copyright 2004 Sheila Cook.