IF WE TALKED ABOUT MEN THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT PIT BULLS

a found poem 

by Beth Winegarner

Nearly two weeks after a brutal dog attack in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, Amber King said she is still coping with the physical and emotional trauma of the incident while beginning a long recovery process… King recalled yelling for help as a pit bull pinned her down and attacked her for 10 to 15 minutes before police arrived. —KGO, September 22, 2026

Once it tasted blood

it may have been difficult to handle.

When raised in loving and stable homes, 

they can be incredibly gentle, affectionate, 

and loyal companions. 

Being laser-focused on the target 

until it is dead or they are dead 

is literally what they were bred for.

Luckily, they are very responsive to training 

and eager to please.

Mauling is hardwired 

in their DNA.

I have one. He’s big, neutered as well. 

I didn’t train him to be vicious,

and he mostly stays at home

with my elderly mom. 

They get along well.

Grew up with “friendly” ones. 

They are absolute powder kegs.

The worst thing to do 

is run away or scream in panic.

This only triggers the prey drive.

Avoid them all the time 

is the only way you can be sure 

you're not going to get attacked. 

Sterilize all of them.

I have met so many 

friendly ones in my time.

They didn't seem aggressive 

until it was too late.

Author’s note: The poem was found from online comments regarding dogs attacking humans and in forums about pit bulls. It was written in light of the news of the "Cornell 7" and of dog attacks like that recently in San Francisco.

Beth Winegarner is an award-winning journalist, author, essayist and pop culture critic who’s contributed to the New York Times, the New Yorker, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and many others. She is the author of several books, most recently San Francisco’s Forgotten Cemeteries: A Buried History. She is the co-host of the Dead Reckoning podcast with Courtney Minick of Here Lies a Story, and the creator of the San Francisco Magdalen Asylum names project.

OUR REBEL, YOUR REBEL

by Norman Ball

"The U.S. military will subject Syrian rebels taking part in a new training program to psychological evaluations, biometrics checks and stress tests under a screening plan...as it expands support for armed groups in Syria." --The Washington Post, November 28, 2014. Image source: Vice.

Our rebels are tested, well-rested and true.

Your rebels seem murderous, antsy and blue.

Rebellion breeds hellions. So take proper care.

Adjusted jihadists don't fall from the air.

Beheadings solve nothing, head doctors report.

Try shrinking your head as a final resort.

Yes, off with your quest for our heads and our necks!

We need them to think about where to bomb next.

Norman Ball is a poet, author and songwriter whose work has appeared in Counterpunch, Asia Times, Pop Matters, The Foreign Policy Journal. His poetry book Serpentrope is available from White Violet Press.