Somebody’s grandbaby
went to school
that frosty December day
anticipating Christmas
nervous about a spelling quiz
thinking about lunch-time
and an Oreo cookie.
Nowhere in that
fresh sweet heart
was there
the idea
the thought
the sense
or even
the possibility
that the day
would be
shredded
and bathed in blood
limbs blown apart
face gone
future
gone.
While old men
harrumph
talking sideways
with silly arguments
crafted by cynical
propagandists
accepting
checks and accolades
spots
on Sunday talk shows
whipping passions
over non-existent losses
Grandma and Grandpa
look at photographs
of a future
lost to them
a future
lost to us all.
You send this to each and every Congressman and Congresswoman! A wonderfully poignant poem and heartfelt sentiment.
And I side with Piers Morgan re: all guns should be banned [and I say especially assault weapons] … he sites a similar shooting of children in England in 1996 when all guns were banned and there hasn’t been one school shooting since. Ok, I’ve stood on my soap box, which I rarely do publicly.
Thank you, Lissa. I have taken your suggestion and have mailed my poem to Senators Udall and Bennett and to Representative Mike Coffman (6th district, Colorado). I believe that the message is more effective when it comes from more than one person. I encourage any of you who were touched by these words to send them to your senators and representatives, along with your personal message. Let them know how you feel.