Tired, and So They Marched

Tired of worn-out platitudes

("Guns don't kill people. No way.");

Tired, too, of empty excuses

("We can't talk about guns today.");

 

Tired of worthless thoughts and prayers--

("We feel for you in your pain.");

Tired of losing family and friends

As daily reports list the slain;

 

Tired of collusion: the stranglehold

Of the NRA on politicians

("You'll get the funds as soon as we

Coordinate our positions.");

 

Tired of the greedy gun industry

Whose sales of weapons leave a trail

Of blood and carnage and death and grief

As they promote a fairy tale;

 

Tired of ceaseless justifications

Proclaiming 2nd Amendment rights

And caustic attacks from the gun lobby

Whose acrimony has reached new heights;

 

Tired of spineless lawmakers

("You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.");

Tired of easy access to weapons

Normally used for fighting wars;

 

Tired of shootings to a degree

Unprecedented worldwide;

Tired of constant hopelessness

With news of every homicide;

 

Tired of always being afraid;

Tired even of being tired,

Hundreds of thousands of students marched,

Ready to act and feeling inspired.

 

They breathed fresh life into

Our revolutionary spirit,

Assertively sending a message

To all Americans willing to hear it.

 

"No more!" "Never again!

That was their message, loud and clear.

"Enough is enough!" "I call BS!"

"End this senseless violence here!"

 

May the movement gather momentum!

May this be a watershed

Moment in modern times to help

Protect the living and honor the dead!

 

The March for Our Lives! They have a dream.

But much more work remains to be done.

Efforts to bring about major changes

In commonsense gun laws have barely begun.

 

-by Bob B (3-25-18)