did you hear about it

did you hear about it
more kids getting shot

another school
another shooting

what gives them the right
what gives them the right to ruin
to shatter
to kill
to murder
to terrorize

how- i cannot comprehend
i do not understand at all
not at all

five dead, so far
check back in with cnn later
death toll will probably be rising
what gives them the right
what gives them the right to shock the world
to grab a gun-no, it was three!- and run on a campus
to mow down innocents

...innocents

and yet life goes on for the rest of us
only slightly pausing to witness the scene
and think how tragic it is
and think how ironic

murder

on the perfect hallmark holiday

what gives them the right
what gives them the right to break the peace
to make the red hearts on the cards
have such a more ironic meaning

what gives them the right
what gives them the right to do this to the families
to those at northern illinois university
to the innocents

...innocents

innocents whose lives were destroyed
nearly four hours ago



and to think i was still worried about my homework at the time.
but how can you know
how can anyone ever know?


and to think that congress spends money
on trying to figure out which baseball players were using steroids
years ago

and to think that those innocents will never have a second chance
at life
at living

what gives them the right
what gives them the right to do this to the world



again

and make us so angry
and so sad