By Lou Ella Hickman
what’s happening with the boys
our prayers & thoughts
bullied?
bang, bang you’re dead
a moment of silence
easy access?
what’s happening with the boys
new laws won’t help
video games?
bang, bang you’re dead
our prayers & thoughts
absent fathers?
what’s happening with the boys
a moment of silence
movies, tv?
bang, bang you’re dead
new laws won’t help
copy cat?
what’s happening with the boys
our thoughts and prayers
a. none of the above
b. all of the above
c. some of the above
flood gates break open voices into the streets
we’ve had enough we’ve had enough
listen please listen how can we get you to listen
to what’s happening with the boys
Sister Lou Ella has a master’s in theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and is a former teacher and librarian. She is a certified spiritual director, poet, and writer. Her poems have appeared in numerous magazines, including, America, First Things, Emmanuel, Third Wednesday, and new verse news as well as in four anthologies: The Night’s Magician: Poems about the Moon, edited by Philip Kolin and Sue Brannan Walker, Down to the Dark River edited by Philip Kolin, Secrets, edited by Sue Brannan Walker, and After Shocks: The Poetry of Recovery for Life-Shattering Events, edited by Tom Lombardo. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2017. Her first book of poetry, entitled she: robed and wordless, was published in 2015 (Press 53).
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash.
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