We were tested today, is word allowed
to speak in utterances, scream aloud
our freedoms, our ability to breathe
in energy evils presently seethe.
Remember as a child when first we learned
civic responsibilities, speech earned.
Tomorrow, next week, again, we honor
human lives. We must destroy dishonor.
‘War’ donned my Stop signs across the city
we wanted to speak out loud our pity.
In order to be heard we took a chance
some laughed, calling it spoken elegance.
12 dead, more wounded, violent release
the freedom of words, belittled, sweet peace