There is a reason for this

but we still will not look for it.

Children with guns off to war,

and adults wringing hands.

The useless explanations,

beyond control nattering over the Net.

And ‘government please help us’

because it is all just too much.

We lost our way over the years,

and our children have lost their hope.

Too much work now, our children.

We have so many ‘things’ to do.

What goes on in their minds

that makes them this way now?

They are becoming dangerous.

They are taking us up on it.

Please help us, we moan and wail.

Please make this go away.

A twelve year-old studies Dickens,

while another twelve year-old loads a gun.

And on the news, no future for either,

no growing up to be like in the books.

How many will survive long enough

to matter to us chained as we are to ‘things’?

Yes, please please help us.

Come with your guns and save us.

My little boy, my little girl, put the guns

to our heads until we look, and finally act.

Before our last bit left of humanity

is shot to pieces before our eyes.

Peter Buknatski

Montpelier, Vt.