A strange conversation at parents’ evening

Having been on holiday to New York for Thanksgiving 

She listed the sites she’d seen: Time Square, Statue of
Liberty, Wall St.  Ground Zero.

It’s an odd place I said; no birds, when I was there,
I rebuked a pupil for trying to capture a plane
Flying past the new WTC.

(A rather tasteless perspective, I thought.)

Oh yes, she said, I was so glad I saw it.
A strange choice of words, but I kept quiet
Because I’m spineless, and thought this instead.

Did you enjoy Schindler’s List? Does reading
About the Rape of Nanking leave you glad too?
I’m a little concerned.

Stop the shooting! The tourists aren’t here yet!
You, holding his innards, spilling like spaghetti,
Can you hang on?

Come and see our real-time war, our HD famine.
Fly business class, with complimentary guilt, and
You can smile and say you were there.