breaking news

first, the eye-witness/survivor,
'take us back'
the eager reporter asks,
& with quivering lips
a tale of violence and loss
unfolds, too bad it isn't sweeps

next, the experts,
'what caused this'
and the mostly detached,
ivory-tower analysts
make us all afraid

maybe, now, a hero's story,
front page bravery
because he didn't leave
a school bus full of children
alone on a teetering precipice

don't forget the press-conference
with public-servant whipping boys
to take the brunt of our collective
rage and blame

and, finally, the victims,
slackened faces and tired eyes,
pulling it together
for their sound bite,

as a stranger, but still a human, prodded on
by the unholy appetite for network
ratings, finds
the cold nerve to ask--
'what was the last thing he said to you?'

the mourning always
summon the courage,
cameras rolling,
to answer

unable to grasp
this further insult
to their loss