Who Cares?!

The fiber glass blue whale overhead tells me a sad story.

I tear up hearing how his Cuvier’s beaked brother 

died just this spring choking on  the

plastic in his belly starving for days on end.

You did it to him, he seemed to say

and I couldn’t deny, could I?

But someone came out of his silo: 

He started cleaning the beaches

as if an atonement for our collective sin.

He cares.

He was full of dreams at 19 but

was dark like a starless night, the black asphalt underfeet

on  the other side of justice and mercy

at the receiving end. He got the prison 

and the  whiplash for being innocent of

the crime of someone else.

Did he die before his death within the walls?

He steps out shines his light on starless nights

for others like him.

He cares.

The hungry fire spread with no mercy: 

It had business to do. Was on a warpath, its anger visible

uncontained. It gobbled up what used to be

homes full of stories,  passions, promises.

Dashed to rubble the histories of those who’d taken

generations to make them. Deleted, sitting in the trash bin.

But comes a guardian angel and wipes her hot tears

He gives her a brief home but a home nonetheless.

She can look at her new key in the meantime.

He cares.

At Tiffany’s, Cartier’s or Zales the diamonds are rock solid

but not a girl’s best friend, hardly ever:

But another woman is. A hand stronger

than a square or pear shaped solitaire; offers

dignity & dispels  taboo & raises them up with

pride and conviction. A shoulder and heart so  bold 

children can  grieve and cope with loss

A mind opens a door to another on whom one’s own’s shut 

And a soul brings  food to the table of those poorer, needier.

She cares.

So when the scrawl on your tee screams: “ Who cares”

Is that a question? your doubt your fear your despair?

Or your apathy? Are you sniggering really?

Or are you self- defending? Or self-doubting? Or are you

a roadrunner, a synergist, or a pathfinder for those off-track?

Well, now you know who cares for real; 

Will your graffiti now voice their story?

And pen another idiom to navigate the rough terrain?

Chop and cut through the wildwaters around?

You might want to give it a thought, you know.