Gary Beck’s most recent poem to appear here was “Crumbling Away” (January 2019).
Equalizer
By Gary Beck
Pain and suffering
affect multitudes,
a human condition
constant to the poor,
surprising the middle class
sheltered from disaster,
outraging the privileged
accustomed to wealth
shielding them from affliction,
yet unexpected onslaughts
shatter normal conditions
and briefly remind us
we are all related.
The equalizer.