168: Cain and Abel

Last week

a boy who was

old enough to carry a gun

and child enough to shoot it

was found innocent.

As the gavel fell

God ask

“Cain, where is your brother?”

The court did not answer.

And last week

I watched a mass of bodies

waving flags

and stirring up fear

weave through the city like a snake.

I had to google their symbols.

Google said it was the proud boys,

descendents of Cain.

So Next week

we’ll sit down together

to pass sweet potatoes and gravy boats

but a chair will be empty

because Abel has gone missing,

his blood cries out from the ground.

Last week

God asked

“Cain, where is your brother?”

and this nation still hasn’t answered.

I don’t want to be thankful

without remembering that.