Security cameras
caught you stealing.
In one country
they take you to the city square,
amputate your hand.
In another
they bring you to court,
lay charges,
present the evidence.
You ask me to join you
in demanding an end
to such acts of oppression.
After all,
authorities should not be spying
on their own citizens.
(Editor’s note: poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, examines current events in the Blacklock’s tradition each and every Sunday)
