January 2026

No Exit by Bob Heinrich

No Exit

by Bob Heinrich

The road is paved, well traveled 

a path that we all know.

Am I not my brother's keeper?

Let my people go. 

Like cordwood stacked in galleons 

disappeared across the sea. 

Midnight trains to nowhere

A million deaths to set them free. 

It's a one-way street to torture.

The destinations a dead end.

Pilot's hands washed in blood

can you make amends? 

Ruby wanted to go to school 

Bridges of hate to cross. 

A vision of courage moved our hearts

will we let it all be lost?

Simple crimes of greed and lust

are witnessed every day.

Is marching in the street enough

to hold evil at bay? 

Hell's the world we live in

when we're focused on the prize.

No escaping the dark shadows.

that follow all our lives.

There's no exit from this cycle.

It's coded in our soul.

Purgatory's another name

when you play a silent role. 

Sartre, King and Orwell.

warned this day would arrive. 

If we cannot see beyond ourselves

how can we survive?

😉😉🤫🤫🤨🙃🙃🙃😎 This poem was written and read by Bob Heinrich at A Poetry Gathering on April 30, 2025