Why are we here?

Is it to wander the blank canvas
that is the beach
and count our blessings
as our dogs run free?

We’re figures in a landscape.
Perhaps someone will point a camera at us
or paint us
and deduce that we are people

who let the big bad world
go about its business;
who choose not to read all about it
or catch it on the 6 o’clock news.

For why would we wish to know
where the bombs are falling
and where the crimes are taking place?

Too detached?
And does it matter?

We’re a long way from anywhere,
here.