A Poem on the Flogging of a Young Girl in Pakistan

One more stony eye
Unyielding, unmerciful,
Watching like the men
Who encircled her
Recording for the world
So the world could watch later
At its convenience
From armchairs
and cubicles,
Living rooms
and dorms.

Watch as a girl is flogged
Whimpering
Trying to cover her body
From more blows
as men hold her down
In the name of justice.

Would it matter to her
to have the camera there?
The public shame
So enormous already
More crushing than the blows.
What does it matter to her
if there is another world outside
Also watching
And doing nothing.
This is her world
encircling her.

This is her world.
Now clouds shroud the valley
Its waterfalls choke on grief
And drip toward oblivion.
The glaciers retreat in silence
While the world checks YouTube
For the next video sensation.