It starts with a crack

Right through the middle of a person.

It’s a simple equation, really.

Strike the heart, and you kill the soul.

Strip the power, and you kill the will.

Rip away hope, and you kill the humanity.

Allow them faith, but not too much

And if you see a spark, don’t forget to stomp

Heaven forbid they taste peace.

Yet when they hand over nothing but

fear and ash and rubble,

When they poison the water and

Salt the earth,

And leave nothing but cinder and ruin

Still have the gall to ask

“When does a man become a monster?”