Don't worry, you're safe with us.
You can trust your government officials.
Hmm? What's that?
School shootings?
Ah, yes. Those are tragic.
But they aren't our concern at the moment, no.
Our top priority for now is to ban a few social media apps
and rename the Gulf of Mexico.
Maybe even invade Greenland while we're at it.
Oh, but don't fret.
This is all for the greater good.
We promise, we care about our American citizens.

L  A  T  F  A  N  P
O T  H  R      E  E
O      I   O      W R
K     N  M           S
         G               P
         S                E
                           C
                           T
                            I
                           V
                           E

when my life ended, time kept ticking on
years went by without me
and the world kept spinning.
nobody noticed that I was gone
because I hid it oh so well
but behind my glazed over eyes was nothing but sorrow
as hopelessness had swallowed me whole.

the spark in my life was snuffed long ago
leaving nothing behind but an empty void
each of my attempts to fill the space
where happiness should have been
have been trivial

every day has been the same for as long as I can remember
fighting to heal, falling into sorrow
I close my eyes and pray
to whoever may be listening
that this year will be different.