CALM CHAOS

This poem was prompted by a newspaper article I read in today's newspaper.

CALM CHAOS
prompted by a newspaper article in the ST. PETE TIMES
about a man in Lake Wales, Florida (2-10-08)

Like any of the young men I know,
         he was indistinct and seemingly normal,
         a nice guy ---
         my next door neighbor or the guy I work with ---
         friendly, funny, handsome even;

Then he was pouring gasoline on two women ---
         one of them pregnant ---
         setting them ablaze in broad daylight...
         and walking away
         like he'd just bought a bag of groceries and
         was going home to fix supper.