"What's Missing" by Manuela Thiess Garcia

Empathy has morphed

into a dirty word, these days

considered too woke

by the new techno Right

vilified by the president’s henchman

empathy is now eschewed

as weak and feminine

incompatible with strong and virile

incompatible with rich and ruthless

empathy might rob their cupboards 

of hoarded wealth, they fear

oh dear, have I offended

by my critique? quick,

into the closet of my thoughts

before they root me out


and stuff me away as gay

or any other pretext 

to vex and protest

responsible action