Virtue

[addy]

Very interesting rumination jack. Though I don't think it's exactly cynical (which I guess shows how cynical I am ), it's quite somber. The softness and reasonableness of the narrative voice only makes it more poignant, like a good man that's been somewhat disillusioned.

virtue is proven by what we don't do.
greatness is rare. for every ten people
who change how we think, a vague way to word it imo... I only got it in the context of its succeeding lines build orphanages
or fight oppression, a million more
blow through their lives like leaves at the feet
of a film character. solid image but imo not perfect... I'm having trouble deciding if you're trying to be glib or not therefore in the absence of greatness
the best among us give by giving nothing bad.

every time we avoid doing something unspeakably evil
we give to the world. Don't think this line needs to be on its own?

every time we don't rape a woman down I think "in" is more correct, like "rape her in an alley" a dark alley,
murderer our spouses, molest a child, spread hatred
of a certain group "certain group" sounds weak to me, steal from our friends
and beat each other up, we are showing our virtue.

we contribute to the garden of life
by not pouring salt
in the window box we've been allotted. I love this image so much. But I'm concerned that it's just a reiteration of something you've already said all throughout your poem... a very moving, skilled reiteration, mind you, but still, perhaps it's not a conclusion