American flags fly
at half mast most days.
Children and parents cry –
torrents of tears stream.
At half mast, most days
see bullets drained –
torrents tear and scream
from the hands of fragile monsters
who are bullet trained.
An American tragedy:
the hands of fragile monsters
shake in rage –
an American tragedy
befalls another unsuspecting town –
shaking, enraged.
”In our hearts and prayers,”
befalls another unsuspecting town
whose calls for change echo
in empty hearts and empty prayers
for Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook
calls for change echo
and echo and echo and echo –
Pulse, Century 16, Walmart
Uvalde, Parkland, Austin –
the echos continue to echo and echo –
the post office, McDonald’s, Fort Hood
Las Vegas Lewiston Maine –
the cacophony of gunfire succeeds –
SynagoguesMosquesTexasFirstBaptist!
Even within halls of worship
the cacophony of gunfire proceeds
to echo and echo and echo
within the walls of our hearts and homes.
American flags fly
in the face of every echo
while American children die and bleed.