Praise Song
By Raymundo T. Pandan Jr.
I thank God none of my brothers and sisters, none
Of my children, neither of my parents, not one
Of my neighbors, students, friends, acquaintances,
Is a drug addict. I thank God all these drug addicts
Are strangers, people I did not know even existed
Before they have been killed to spare me
Of their weakness. I thank God that they
Are not deserving of my concern, much less
My true and honest love. I thank God that every day
When I hear news that another one has been killed,
I can turn off the television or mute the radio,
And I can look at my children, my parents and all
Of my friends and thank God that none of them
Have been, or are, crazy enough to be drug addicts.
I thank God for making not care for these drug addicts.
Most of all, I thank God I am not evil like them.
