Some gave their lives, others a limb or two
Don’t overlook the invisible hurt, that’s not the thing to do
Here we are standing, pretending not to be a fool
Not thinking things are okay or just another day at school
We want to help; that’s the bottom line
We thought in doing so, everything would be fine
We are a long way from there, but here we are, anyway
Injuries, mental, run deeply, approach with gentleness today
The present festers, accompanied with resentment from the past
It will break through, be prepared for that
Here we are, so inadequate, we’ll prepare the fish dinners
We would rather try to teach to fish; then we’d be a winner
So we feed and listen; waiting for a sign of growth
Trying to build solutions, knowing we have no design
We listen to the lashing out; remarks not to be recanted
Because the truth lays therein, at least the truth he chanted
He could kill with bare hands, you hear him talking mayhem
There is a mother somewhere, who desperately still loves him
Flare-ups, false friends, personal responsibility on hold
Rejected out of fear, just another story told
We’ll do our best, as they did, too
Knowing there’s no solution, at least at this school
For now we just patch, we soothe and understand
Paint every picture positive, and hope we’re doing grand
Theirs is ongoing; no answer for them in sight
We’ll keep on encouraging and pray that we are right
We walk out the door, while they remain sitting there
With shredded lives and broken souls: they were those who dared
Stanski
December 18, 2019 ^
Steve Haarman 