Guns-1
Ralph Yarl, a black boy, was shot in the head
By a man, eighty four.
He was scared; what he said
Shot him through the glass window of his secured door
Then shot him again after he’d fallen down
His defense: “Stand your ground”
In Phoenix, today, a young man with a gun
Killed some three randomly
On a wild shooting spree
Hard to say what he felt
Lots of bullets he sprayed ‘till deciding he’s done
To his life, said goodbye; turned the gun on himself
Cable news, there we witness our people in Congress
Who proudly display
On their jacket lapels bold assault-rifle pins
It’s the fad of the day
So what are they saying, when all’s said and done?
How to stop these mass killings is selling more guns
These vignettes, although different, have one commonality
We’re deep in gun culture
It’s now our reality
Thus manifesting and future-wise worsening
I’ve more on this topic that I’d like to say
But that will take place on some near-future day
4/18/2023
A powerful and thought-provoking poem on the issue of gun violence. The imagery and language used in this poem are both beautiful and haunting, making it impossible not to feel the weight of the message being conveyed.
The way the poet juxtaposes the horrific incidents of gun violence with the disturbingly casual attitude towards guns in our society is both unsettling and eye-opening. The poem captures the tragic consequences of our gun culture in a way that is both poignant and urgent.
Thanks to the poet for using his voice to bring attention to such an important issue. This poem is a powerful reminder that we need to take action to address gun violence and create a safer world for all.
Thanks, Josh. Your comments are poignant and heartening