New Numbers
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“We need new numbers for this.”
   Scientist explaining the term ‘overkill’ to Congress.

Because we can’t keep count of the daily murders.
Because 12583 dead doesn’t mean anything.
Because every 5 minutes immeasurable harm happens.
Because of 1 in 10 and 4 out of 5.
Because 22% think the Holocaust didn’t happen.

Because we escape time through the doorway of digital exactness.
Because the National Park Service says 300,000 and the marchers
       say 1.2 million.
Because we tally the exact spasms of a man’s body
       in the electric chair and his name is 789632556.

Because humans are branded with them.
Because the likelihood of a teenager having an abortion is 1 in 5
       and the likelihood of telling her father is zero.
Because 5,832 nuclear installations must be wrong.
Because graves outnumber affordable housing 25,000 to 1.
Because the 21st century must be redefined.

Because it is possible for every voice
And every word of every voice
And every letter of every word of every voice
And every part of every letter of every word of every voice
       to pass into nothingness.

 

From New Numbers by Josie Kearns
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