Newtown

to you they were not
          children
they were not
          beautiful

avatars in your videogame
          mind, you forgot
they would not fight back
they would not shoot
or bludgeon or stab you

you forgot they drew
pictures of their houses
and played with their dogs
and dreamed of being
superheroes and movie stars

you forgot they were afraid
of thunder and the dark

you came to show them
your close friends Glock
Sig Sauer and Bushmaster .223

extras in your action movie
          mind, you knew
they would scream and run
but you forgot the smell
of fear and blood would
          fill your brain

you remembered your heroes
from Virginia Tech and Tulsa
Aurora and Oak Creek
Minneapolis and USC
Café Racer Espresso and
          Columbine

but you forgot the parents
whose hearts are gone forever
and the children

you forgot
          they were innocent

                ~

- James K. Zimmerman
          12/15/12

copyright by James K. Zimmerman 2012 - All Rights Reserved