December 14th

A crazed man with a knife

stabbed 22 children half-a-world away…

Only survivors carry scars and grief.

Nancy loved guns and

her son was a loner,

they say.

All I hear is the ringing out…

those sharp echoes

off painted cinderblock and brick

and tile

hallways stretching what the intercom

blared
chaos

violence and terror

pointless

incomprehensible

tragedy

and just as sudden,

over and silent.

And even before the smoke and bodies were cleared

from this family drama made

public,

these lost lives were made policy pawns:

Guns don’t kill,

people do.

But handguns and assault rifles

make it a hell of a lot easier.

And only survivors carry scars and grief.