New Poetry


Your Own Bloody Hands

Let it be known
I’ve enough of my own crimes
and have no desire
to answer for those
of others.

The crimes of man
the crimes of history
were none of my invention.
They bore and disgust me as much
As they do you.

I was not consulted
or asked for advice
when Hitler marched on Paris.

I was home asleep when the blind girl was raped.

The children in the quiet village
were murdered
without my permission.

I was 300 years unborn
while the witches burned.

I lack the imagination
and ambition
for such things,

far too depressed
to oppress.

I only want to watch the sky through windows
on rainy afternoons.

My own crimes
are common and paltry,
sad little things
hardly worthy
of history books.

But they are, at least, my own.

They say ignorance kills more folk than bombs.

Go wash your own bloody hands, girl,
and leave me be.

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