Here’s the poem from last Saturday’s prompt. Now we’re even, twenty-two poems in twenty-two days with eight to go.

For today’s prompt, write a report poem. I know, I know: Writing a report sounds about as far away from poetry as flying is to a penguin, but many poems report on a moment or an instance or a scene. In your poem (or poems) today, report on something big and important or small and inconsequential (or small and important–or, well, you get the idea).

Reporting live from…

I had a gas mask
unlike the locals
whose misery is porn
for you back home.

I try my best to remain neutral
but amid such suffering, blame
falls upon the most recent attackers.

Our leaders have tantrums,
wet their pants in the sandbox,
treat people like plastic soldiers,
cities like building blocks.

We don’t care who’s retaliating
for what or who’s deterring
whom. Like our neighbors,
these people’s biggest worry
should be if their boss
likes their work
or how their children
are dealing with peer pressure
not if they’ll survive
the night.

Let’s pray for a merciful god
to save us from the whims
of powerful men.