Are You Listening?

Driving horse, staring, utter boredom
Are you really listening?
Say «yes"and «no"in all the right places
Now your eyes are blistering
Are these things of fascination
Or are they just chatter?
Will you have to slap my face
To find out that you matter?
I saw fighting on the sidewalk
She was down and crying
As he punched her in the mouth
Her fingers white with prying
Then he took his crash helmet
And smashed in her friend’s cheekbone
Yes yoou can stop I think she’s heard you
I think she’s got your message
Though it’s not the friendliest of conversation
Violence demands your participation
And now you7re watching as it sweeps the nation under