Poem: The Weight of Context

The Weight of Context What is a single line From a book Taken in isolation Taken out From where it belongs Away from the story It goes with I’m not saying That quotes are bad I’m saying they exist To remind us all What the bigger story said The same is true For a bible verse Quoting a line is cool, But one line Can not justify What someone does When their actions go Against the grain Of the entire story Nor is one action The sum total Of an entire human life Yet the way We see the news It seems like all boils down To what would be Only a line from someone’s story Taken out of context Weighed and measured Publicly judged and consumed In solitary isolation Taking a moment To check deeper Reveals the weight Of looking at everything Completely in context Which is the beginning Of truest understanding