"An Apology by a Toxic Metal"

This is my AoW nonfiction poem.

“An Apology by a Toxic Metal”

It is I, lead. Yes, I-who-poisoned-Flint.

But I’m not here to talk about my crimes.

I’m here to apologize.

The industry wanted me to keep people safe

but I could not.

All I could do

was hurt people (I’m toxic)

and when I tried to tell them

they denied me.

We had known since Roman times

and my crimes did not shift names (unlike their gods).

However, this was lost

and I was used to prevent

cholera and typhus

and thus, fear.

My ads were like Donald Trump,

spouting ludicrous lies

but I, honestly, tried to prevent the awful, atrocious

fate that befell those who drank from me

and ended up having another industry use my miniature Danger Dolan doughboy

to hurt and kill people.

The outrage against me and my corroded corpse

is deserved.

I failed at my job

and I am sorry.

Inspired by "'Lead helps guard your health': How U.S. companies sold a toxic product"

Lead:This is me and my brothers in 2009.