Dear America,

times are changing

so listen closely

to the voices remaining.

 

The voices that shout and cry and scream,

“this is not the America we dreamed.”

 

Can’t you see the scarlet ground?

The bones and bags of bodies they found?

 

They say guns will save us from guns,

that this is the only way to go.

But Donald Trump and Wayne LaPierre,

our answer will always be no.

 

Stop selling those guns and take a look –

more than 1600 shootings since Sandy Hook.

 

“Never a right time to talk about gun policy”?

I really must say this with total honesty,

we’re tired of waiting to hear your lies.

“Thoughts and prayers” won’t bring back their lives.

 

So, what are you waiting for, America?

the time is now, God save Florida.

 

God save us all, for when I get older,

I want a daughter who will not look over

her shoulders every time she hears a bang

or fear death in the air that will hang

 

Or worse, if she comes home to say,

“mama, there was another one today”

 

But what can I tell her?

I don’t want to lie.

God, I sound like the politicians

who condemned us all to die

 

So, my dear sweet daughter,

the answer is clear

if we cannot fix this manslaughter,

you will not be here

 

I’m sorry if this has come to be true

but this life, was not one I dreamt of for you.

 

 

---

This was a poem I wrote after the terrible school shooting at Parkland, Florida. My thoughts go out to all the families and everyone affected. As part of the new generation, I promise I will stand up and speak out until there is change. I read this poem aloud at the student organized rally at Boston University – I’d like to thank everyone for being there and for supporting one another. I am incredibly saddened that this is how everyone got together but I am also extremely amazed at all the compassion shown at the rally and on school campus. I am so proud to be standing up, side-by-side with my peers at Boston University, and I hope that I will be seeing everyone on March 24, 2018 for the National Walkout.

 

Thank you so much for reading this post, please message me or comment if you are going through something or if you just want to talk. My contact page is always open. 

 

Love wins.