I wrote poems br While guys were ground into hamburger br Mistakedly dying br Because of an error, an omission br A deletion somewhere br In the chain of DNA's command. br br I wrote poems br While a little boy in Baghdad br Got his arms and legs blown off br Due to a minor foresight. br br I wrote poems br While rotting medicine br Expired on storage shelves br In the accursed name br Of cost-effectiveness. br br I wrote poems br While young men br Raped by cancer, diabetes, or pain br Go homeless br Because God forbid br Should we have 'socialized' medicine. br br I wrote poems br Composed of blood br Bathed in tears br And nevertheless br Merely words br words br words. br br And no little gush of love br Could be big enough br To fill all these hollow, hardened hearts.