A Poem Calling for Change

I wrote this poem two months ago on the day I walked out to demand change after the Parkland shooting. It has been two months, and nothing has changed. Today there was yet another shooting, so I figured today was a good day to post this poem.

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Change

no need for gun control

the government said

when thousands of kids have died of bullet wounds in school

when the NRA funds politicians

when maintaining the rights of gun owners is the unspoken rule

and school shooters play video games,

so they say video games cause gun violence

the beautiful messages of hope are the future

if the teenagers spoke through tears

while recalling the bullets flying through the air

then WE can create meaningful change

and end gun violence in schools

WE can end the fear of schoolchildren

that a man with a loaded gun will burst in and shoot them

while their teacher acts as a shield

WE can demand more regulations

stricter background checks, longer waiting times

WE can continue to speak up

until school shootings fade from our collective memory