the news

as you read the crime
section
in the newspaper you think
back
to summers
on the street.
there was always
a kid
who pulled the wings off
off of flies,
or butterflies,
or moths.
just to see what they
would do.
unable to take flight
again.
these same boys,
would put nails at the end
of sticks
and hunt frogs, or snakes
in the woods.
they showed no mercy
to caught fish,
or a stray cat
who wandered
upon their path.
it was hard to understand
when ten,
even harder now
at this age,
to give reason for
what people do.