See the Word

Japan.
An earthquake.
All over the headlines.
Reads like news.
Like facts and figures;
Current events;
Dinner conversation.

X number of years since the last earthquake.
X number of people injured.
Number point number on the Richter scale.
X number of people rescued.

So many square miles.
Waves this high.
That many buildings washed away.
X number of people missing.

X number of people‘s lives lost.

Lines on a page.
Columns of text.
The word blends right in.

Facts.
Figures.
People.
Facts.
Figures.
People.

Get out your eye’s highlighter.
Find the word.
People.
Find it every time it appears.
People. People. People.

People.
Human.
Like. You.
Like. Me.

Each one a mother like your mother; a father like your father.
Someone’s grandparent, brother or sister, (gulp) someone’s child.
Like mine. Like yours.

We will not pray like we can.
We will not give like we can.
We will not feel like we can.
Unless we see that word.
People.