Evil.

• Ainsley Lea, Grade 11
• Poetry
• 2019

Meeting were three leaders of three nations, a triangle of malversation
The first leader began, hating the silence pooling in his ears,
“My country is sanctuary. Under my rule I have never seen violence,
I have never seen massacres, mothers grieving, children haunted and silent
I’ve seen no evil.”
Splendid you think, until you see his eyes, cloudy, unfocused, blind.

The second leader began, speaking with dancing fingers,
“My country is paradise. Under my control, I have never heard pain,
I have never heard toxic words, so cruel they drive innocent insane
I’ve heard no evil.”
Grand you think, until you grasp, he can’t hear his breath, completely deaf

The third leader began, his tears speaking as they dripped down his cheeks,
“Tongueless, I speak no evil, yet I know it is ripping our nations apart
We leaders, have let our nations crumble, let our neglect go too far
And although we could not see, hear or speak evil
We damn sure could feel it festering in our hearts.