tragedy is keeper of the watch,

abruptly waking people from their 

self-satisfied slumber,

tragedy is a rapier blade 

conscience pricker 

a librarian of sentimental, rich 

untimely spluttered platitudes,

tragedy is a grief detective 

spilling guilt like alms given 

tardily to the poor,

tragedy waits at the wellhead of

crocodile tears, giving succour

to the bereaved who crawl 

from every crevice, their pockets 

crammed with worthless hindsight,

tragedy, once hot news fades into

frozen history, readily takes

a crowded pew in the ‘church of 

seen it all before’ and gorges on

the ripe flesh of hypocrisy

 

© GRS 10/24