We find the best among us

Jackie Sheeler

“We find the best among us, send them forth into
unmapped darkness, and pray they will return.”

We find the best among us
            (the very best have hidden)
            (the very best refuse to serve)
            (the very best will never come
            forth at the behest of your machine)
 
send them forth
            (under threat of lockdown)
            (upon uncapped radiation capsules)
            (incommunicado. isolate. coerced.)
 
into unmapped darkness
            (into nameless desert streets)
            (into smallpox dust-storms)
            (oblivion. every last unwanted thing.)
 
and pray
            (the way your Christian minions pray outside
             abortion clinics: fetus in jar, grenade in hand)
            (the way you pray on TV every Sunday)
            (prayers that come 5x/day don’t count count count)
 
they will return
            (to haunt you)
            (to evict you from your big white house)
            (to conquer you with unexpected mercies)