again.

the body count
mounts

again.

under spring project posters
and tables
for times-ing their numbers.

under tables.

again.

I watch (again)
in horror (again)
in rage (again)
in sorrow (again)

as I hold my teen
tightly
whom I held
bawling (me – not her)

nearly ten years ago

at the thought
of never
seeing
my first grader

again.

why is this happening?

again?

do we really have so little power?

or is there just
too
damned
much
money
buying
“freedom” ?

spent from the accounts
of our children’s lives?

Am I alone in thinking
this price
is
far
too
high?

I’m just guessing,
but I bet these parents
want that money

and their kids

back

again.