SUBWAY
©2013 Robert C Burnham
Do you know what happens
Once people hate enough
Push
Their hatred becomes a passion
Their passion evolves to righteousness
Push
A righteousness of fire
A righteousness of protection
Push
Darkness & noise; hatred kills incognito
Again and again and again
Push
Above ground noise is opera and sonatas
Below, the rumblings of a train
Push
In the oak veneer Courtroom, an
all-too-familiar plea; “I did it for us”
Push 
Whetstone Poetry & Poets Against Atrocities:
Erika Menendez of Queens pushed Sunando Sen, 46, in front of an oncoming subway train on December 27, 2012, telling authorities later that her hatred for "Hindus and Muslims" prompted her to do so. Menendez had shown no remorse for her actions.
Naeem Davis of New York pushed Ki-Suck Han 58, of Queens, in front of an oncoming subway train on December 03, 2012. He has been indicted on one count of second-degree murder as a hate crime and other charges.
The list does go on.
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 17
Whetstone I wonder about using a more subtle stance in either the title or some of the word choices within the poem. The word "push" is very strong both on the page as well as to the ear. Since you've added an addendum re: the murders in the NY subways, the combination of "push" and the title is almost too much.
Also, you've used "righteousness" at the end of a line and then it gets "pushed" to the beginning of a line (two lines, in fact) and I like that. I wonder if you could do an encore with that technique using another word later in the poem. Just a thought.
On your 2nd comment: I like that idea. Perhaps it won't be done specifically for this poem but I think I'll compose another using a tandem or even a trio of such 'pushings'. Thanks Coach!
Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
Seriously, apart from my above cynic observation, this is a tight poem. Restless one. The word Push communicates the necessary energy and urgency.
Featured on Surreal Circus
Featured on the Subway Wall on The Triple Name Club.
Here, the word "push" is so full of the negativity and hatred. I felt it worked well - harsh, raw, real...so completely unfortunate.
Lovely poem dear
Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!
Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Featured.
A good connection to real-world events.