To be sure, many foolish things
Are worthy of ridicule.

But the wiser I get—
If that is indeed what is happening—
The harder it is to defend the ridiculing.

Sure, it states the facts and makes its point,
But it also punishes the one in error
And bids the audience to pile on—
As if neither grace
Nor human dignity
Were a thing.

So now, I find myself cringing
More and more
When I hear it.

And I wonder
How long it will be
Until I have finally
Dug it all out
Of my own heart,
Never to see it
Raise its ugly head again.