Because no one else would,

a white crane sits in a cage

in a sprawling city

passing messages to pigeons.

Because no one else would,

a dreamguide sits shackled for letting in light

and the world lines up to spit in his face

while heads inside screens bark and snarl.

Because no one else would,

white hairs line the floor

and the air is getting stuffy

and it’s growing harder to breathe.

My great-grandchildren will scarce believe

that such a creature could have ever existed.

“That’s so unfair!”

“Why’d they do that to him?”

“Why didn’t the police save him?”

“Where were the grown-ups?”

“Why did that happen?”

“Why’d he have to do that?”

“Because no one else would, child,”

I will be forced to say.

“Many of us could have,

but no one else would.”