The Voices of Our Children
Columbine, Littleton, Carlsbad
Sandy Hook, Taft, Troutdale,
Marysville, Middletown,
on and on … now Parkland
harsh way to grow up
faster than we wanted
than they wanted
we watch and listen
the voices of our children
call us to action
plead for us to stop the violence
make this right
the words of an eighteen-year-old
I stare at the tear-streaked face
struck by her courage, I weep
her voice cracks, her pain belongs to all of us
a gray-haired woman tells me
these young people are going to change the world
they have to, she insists
we aren’t doing enough, aren’t getting the politicians to listen
I hear about the coming school walkouts
the Washington sit-ins
will it make a difference
change the terrifying trajectory
of this nightmarish ride we find ourselves on
Columbine, Littleton, Carlsbad
Sandy Hook, Taft, Troutdale,
Marysville, Middletown …
now Parkland
the voices of our children
call us to action
hell of a way to grow up
hell of a way …
Reanne Singer, February 19, 2018
Columbine, Littleton, Carlsbad
Sandy Hook, Taft, Troutdale,
Marysville, Middletown,
on and on … now Parkland
harsh way to grow up
faster than we wanted
than they wanted
we watch and listen
the voices of our children
call us to action
plead for us to stop the violence
make this right
the words of an eighteen-year-old
I stare at the tear-streaked face
struck by her courage, I weep
her voice cracks, her pain belongs to all of us
a gray-haired woman tells me
these young people are going to change the world
they have to, she insists
we aren’t doing enough, aren’t getting the politicians to listen
I hear about the coming school walkouts
the Washington sit-ins
will it make a difference
change the terrifying trajectory
of this nightmarish ride we find ourselves on
Columbine, Littleton, Carlsbad
Sandy Hook, Taft, Troutdale,
Marysville, Middletown …
now Parkland
the voices of our children
call us to action
hell of a way to grow up
hell of a way …
Reanne Singer, February 19, 2018