A Cautionary Tale - Mark Gardiner

[Larry Robinson]

A Cautionary Tale

I woke from a dream
of a circle of men where
the most basic elements of men's work
had been forgotten
where the distrust and fear anger 
in men was not met with
wisdom where being here to make a racket had primacy
where we forgot to ask if we
could agree that there would be no violence
no physical violence this week
where we were reluctant to share
even our names and praise with
men we did not know
laughter and poetry singing were
thrown out, just get 'em out of here
someone said, "just punch him 
in the face. I'll pay your
legal bills."  it was a dark time
it was hell.

        - Mark Gardiner