Ilene Bauer Poet Rhyme

Community Reaction

I read about a person
Who, within a city park,
Attacked a woman and her dog
At 6 a.m. (still dark).

He was rooting through the garbage,
Yelling crazily, before
Tossing urine in a bottle,
Then proceeded to do more…

With a stick he hit the woman,
Next her dog across the snout,
Which a witness heard and ran to see
What it was all about.

When the police came, the attacker
Had already up and fled
But the injuries the dog sustained
Caused him to wind up dead.

The assailant was familiar – 
He was known and clearly ill,
Yet community reaction
Is divided, voices shrill.

Some say find him and arrest him!
He’s a danger – he needs jail!
Others think he won’t get help
With the police hot on his trail.

Though it’s sad when mental illness
Can’t keep violence at bay,
This man’s demons should require
He gets treatment – far away!

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Gershon Wolf October 21, 2022 at 11:14 AM I was thinking maybe San Quentin?! lol. In my neighborhood, formerly safe, in Chicago, we've had one murder a day this past week. Just blocks from my house. Ugh! I myself could just KILL Kim Foxx, the County State's Attorney who has emptied our jails and canceled all bail. Hmm. Did I say kill? OK -- I'd be happy just to recall her. But that ain't happening. ~ Very cautiously go out of the house any time of day at this point. (And I'm serious about being cautious!)

Rico Leffanta October 21, 2022 at 10:44 AM On Second thought, this should be Fav'd, so I did! Aloha!

Vickey Rhymer October 20, 2022 at 2:22 PM Kay Jamison a psychologist voted one of the best Drs in the USA has suffered herself with bipolar disorder since early adulthood.Something she wrote that stood out to me was the reality of consequense. Should she become lackadaisical in taking her medication and Offend there should be consequence she wrote.I appreciated this came from her unique perspective which I agree with fully.

Terry Flood October 20, 2022 at 11:35 AM I’m afraid if someone is violently disturbed they need to be kept away from the public. An entire community should not live in fear of a single ‘sick’ individual. This isn’t harsh, just simple common sense. Well written observation, Ilene. Terry

Rico Leffanta October 20, 2022 at 11:34 AM This is really well done, Ilene! Hannah has a point in that as long as people can make money out of the mentally ill, there will be mentally ill people and as long as judges turn them free because there is no place to house them, everyone will suffer. Some build asylums, but lack the funding to keep them secure . . .

Caren Krutsinger October 20, 2022 at 1:38 AM Ilene, this is written with such a lively light feeling and yet, I sense underlying depression, sadness and grief. We all want "them" far away, but alas, God has put them right in our faces, so why don't we give them the help they need? No idea. Could it be money?

L Milton Hankins October 19, 2022 at 8:15 PM Oh dear. Ilene, your poem is so real, so well-described. It certainly does raise questions about how and why people like this are still roving around our parks endangering the well-being of folks who should be enjoying those parks.

Michael Tor October 19, 2022 at 7:51 PM I can't imagine the pain that poor women went through to see her dog that she loved killed by this madman. I know there are people that have mental illness but when you're in the situation you do not know that. For all we know he could have been just frustrated and sinister. I see more and more of this through out the country people should have a way of protecting themselves from these tyrants. Thanks for sharing, imagine what this poor women has to relive in her mind being haunted forever...

Hannah Borke October 19, 2022 at 3:51 PM He was probably treated, and the treatment caused the insanity. Psychiatrists are poisoning all their patients.