Poets Respond to the Uvalde Tragedy, Part 15

Poetry

UVALDE, UNITE FOR WHAT’s RIGHT
By NANCY FIERSTIEN

Could there possibly be an American town
with as deeply furrowed a brow?
I have no real close ties to Uvalde,
but I feel close to its townspeople now.

They have 21 reasons and then some
to be stricken, in shock, in deep pain.
One sick soul with a gun
shattered their horizon and obscured the sun

But not forever!

I feel moved to call all Americans,
to assure them one way back to bliss
is to prove to each other: “We’re better –
we can all be much better than this!”

THREE HAIKU for UVALDE
By KELLY ELSASSER

Anytown US
19 kids 2 adults dead
The town Uvalde

Are we powerless?
AR-15s up your ass
We the people scream

Holes in our family
Holes in my dead child’s body
Holes in Uvalde