The fire’s last embers long died out
and empty beds remain empty
empty yesterday
empty today and forever
but who remembers?
It is the way of our world
that it happens
that we shake in shock
as we grapple
with the tragedy at our door.
Then we wear holy rage,
like flags of war
then we scream
till our voices go hoarse
then we shake it off
and we wait
till the next one.
