In an undergrad
Class many years ago, a
Classmate, orthodox
Jewish, nineteen, told
Us about verbal abuse
He’d endured by a
Random passerby
That morning, a man incensed
By his dress and hair.
The classmate, young and
Strong, related his response,
Which was to confront
The abuser and
“Get up in his face, but my
Friends got me away
From him.” Another
Classmate, older, African
American woman, gave
Him this advice: “If
Someone does something wrong to
You, don’t be the one
To go to jail. Send
Them to jail, but don’t ever
Do anything to
Get arrested.” This
Wisdom returns to me some
Nights, reading x-rays
For emergencies.
Boxer’s fractures, like above,
Are very common.
I’d like to ask these
Young men, “son, what can someone
Say to you worth pain
Your life long? Heinous
Words deserve social responses,
Not breaking bones and
Risking death, arrest,
Disability. You will
Heal, but you’ll not be
Given the bone you
Had. Use the rest to create
Something beautiful.”
Melodramatic Physician 