There’s a virus in here which spreads like a madness
of uncontrollable voyeuristic joy at other peoples’ sadness.
You can see in their eyes a furnace-like fire.
I suppose it makes them feel better about their desire.

It seems to me that their underdeveloped brains
genuinely rejoice in other human’s pains.
The fervour by which they devour the news
further perverts their already toxic views.

Do they hate humanity? Do they turn their back on companion?
Maybe they’re delighted because it diverts attention.
Whatever it is, it’s horrible to see.
It makes me feel sick, it drives me to tears.

Sympathetic joy is a perfection of which Buddhists speak.
Maybe it’s a way to enlightenment reach.
But for now, for me, living here in prison
all I want is to reduce the poison.