#neveragain | Teen Ink

#neveragain

August 5, 2019
By Greenleaf GOLD, Oakville, Ontario
Greenleaf GOLD, Oakville, Ontario
10 articles 8 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Oft hope is born when all is forlorn." --J.R.R. Tolkien


duty compels me to read into the details
to learn the names of the victims
who were hurt
and who were killed
but I can’t do it tonight.
my soul is empty.
I can only sleep, and
steel myself for tomorrow morning, and
pray nothing more happens
before the sun rises.

the numbers change, but
the killers’ motives stay the same.

god save us.
give me the strength to fight
back against white supremacy.
to scream against the useless foes who
toss “thoughts and prayers” around like so much
flyaway confetti 
to plant my feet and clench my fists and
shout myself hoarse against the terror that chokes me

but most of all

let me wail, rage, sob, grieve,
feel every emotion like a burning dagger through my veins
as long as I can feel, I can still fight
for the worst thing that could happen to me 
is not death, is not heaven nor hell,
but apathy.


The author's comments:

my soul aches for the victims of the most recent shootings. the U.S. needs gun control, badly.


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This article has 1 comment.


on Aug. 10 2021 at 10:39 am
Crazywolfiegirl2 PLATINUM, Kington, Other
26 articles 3 photos 284 comments

Favorite Quote:
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. —Rachel Carson

This was so sad. Well done