© by John Monteleone – June 14, 2016, Sag Harbor
by the edge of the water
in the cool summer weather
wind strokes me like a dove’s feather
the sun’s setting like a fire in the sky
i ask why as I’m crying
and the bullets keep flying
a raging river of bloody pictures
under the lids of my eyes
of another massacre clipping their pretty wings
and the non-stop chattering begins
families devastated future generations hating
those who have left their lives crying
and the bullets keep flying
i’m so saddened by all the death
like the world is engaged in russian-roulette
left with no answers and nothing left
the beating hearts needlessly lost their breath
(4 beats of silence)
after the aftermath come the candles and the flames
the president’s speeches and the president’s blame
an indifferent congress an indifferent NRA
leaders keep talking instead of leading the way
news conferences applauding police heroism
too quick with answers to unanswered questions
the system licking the ass of establishment lying
and the bullets keep flying
media madness and media racketeering
ads in-between the massacres continue profiteering
the unsightly bloodbath never shown or ever seen
to keep ‘em watching the tragedy’s presented
sterile and clean
witnessed through a protective screen
the situation’s like a ruptured spleen
in the center of this state of un-grace and dis-grace
everything feels – misplaced
like a broken plate shattered across – a baby’s face
it’s all so bloody and ugly and terrifying
the slaughtered doves gone – everyone’s hiding
and the bullets keep flying
like a hysterical nightmare of the criminally insane
we keep running away – from the pain
justify and rationalize – the pain
explain in detail the details – of the pain
examine the intricate complexity – of the pain
debate in Congress the meaning – of the pain
run-on news-talk-babble-yak-babble-yak about – the pain
begin to expect more expectation – of the pain
become numb and number to the pain – of the pain
of the pain of the pain of the pain of the pain of the pain
of the pain of the pain of the pain of the pain of the pain
and… the blame of the blame of the blame of the blame
and… explain and explain and explain and explain
why… the bullets and the bullets and the bullets
and the bullets and the bullets and the bullets
and the bullets and the bullets and the bullets
and the bullets and the bullets and the bullets
and the bullets and the bullets and the bullets
keep flying
and the doves keep dying
keep dying
keep dying
keep dying
keep dying
keep dying
keep dying
keep dying …
