Jennifer Lagier

KARMA

“I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.” —Charlie Kirk


It’s a bitch when karma takes you at your word,
manifests your beliefs,
gives you a taste of your rabid philosophy,
points the barrel at you, turns you into the victim.

All it takes is one more angry white man,
an easily obtained rifle,
plenty of ammunition,
a home-grown terrorist perched on a rooftop.

Uncritical non-thinkers poisoned by conspiracy theories
find scapegoats upon which to shower hate.
Corrosive social media memes demonize and enrage,
pour gasoline on the fire.

A mascot of misogyny and racism
becomes MAGA’s twisted messiah.
Careless vitriol cast over a ravening mob
catalyzes retribution by bullet.


Jennifer's YouTube reading of "Karma"


Jennifer confesses: "After reading a number of deifying headlines following the death of Charlie Kirk, I was compelled to write this poem."

JENNIFER LAGIER has published twenty-five books. Her work appears in a variety of anthologies and literary magazines. She taught with California Poets in the Schools, edited the Homestead Review, currently edits the Monterey Poetry Review, helps publicize Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Second Saturday readings. Website: jlagier.net, Facebook: www.facebook.com/JenniferLagier/